Andy Byford | Metropolitan Transportation Authority/Flickr What letter? MTA throws up hands at request for first Byford resignation note

The MTA appears to to have conveniently misplaced, or failed to retain, a resignation letter from former subway chief Andy Byford — the one he withdrew in October after officials convinced him to stay on a while longer.

On Friday evening, an MTA attorney emailed POLITICO saying, “The MTA has conducted a diligent search and does not have in its possession any record responsive.” The notification was in response to POLITICO’s October 31 request for the letter, filed under the state's Freedom of Information Law.


Asked for further comment, MTA spokesperson Abbey Collins emailed, “Letter speaks for itself.”

On Oct. 18, POLITICO was first to report that Byford had submitted his resignation to MTA managing director Ronnie Hakim, only to rescind it after officials talked him back from the ledge.

Collins acknowledged the letter’s existence in October, and its withdrawal.

“The letter has been rescinded,” she said at the time.

Byford's change of heart proved temporary. He proceeded to resign again — this time for good — in January.

Both of Byford's resignation letters came amid ongoing tension with Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who effectively controls the MTA and who has increasingly inserted himself into its affairs. The first letter raised concerns about the increasing politicization of the MTA, one source familiar with its contents said.

“These kinds of official documents should be easily accessible,” said Nick Sifuentes, executive director of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign.

Danny Pearlstein at the Riders Alliance said, “Finding and sharing the letter would help build trust with riders at a pivotal moment."