Byford, who formerly ran NYC Transit and Transport for London, could bring renewed vigor to the agency’s plans to expand regional rail in the United States.
“Former NYC Transit President and beloved ‘Train Daddy’ Andy Byford will join Amtrak next month as an executive vice president,” reports David Meyer in an exclusive for Streetsblog NYC, prompting renewed optimism on the part of rail supporters. The former Transport for London head will oversee Amtrak’s expansion of high-speed rail in the United States.
“The cheery Brit’s tenure in New York was marked by increased on-time subway performance, the approval of $40 billion in proposed spending to modernize city subways and buses, and his very public squabbles and eventual falling out with then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who was later forced to resign in a sexual harassment scandal.”
Lisa Daglian, executive director of the MTA’s in-house Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee, praised the move, saying that Byford has “lived and worked in places where high speed rail actually exists and is in a great position to help bring it here,” adding that Byford “understands the complexity of the system and its components — and mostly, how to put riders first.”
FULL STORY: Andy Byford to Join Amtrak
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Arkansas DOT Solicits Input for Rail Plan Update
Transportation advocates want to see expanded intercity and regional rail service, along with improved core bus services.
‘Forward Together’ Bus System Redesign Rolling Out in Portland
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Can New York City Go Green Without Renewable Rikers?
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700-Acre Master-Planned Community Planned in Utah
A massive development plan is taking shape for lakefront property in Vineyard, Utah—on the site of a former U.S. Steel Geneva Works facility.
More Cities Ponder the End of Drive-Thrus
Drive-thru fast food restaurants might be a staple of American life, but several U.S. cities are actively considering prohibiting the development of new drive-thrus for the benefit of traffic safety, air quality, and congestion.
Air Pollution World’s Worst Public Health Threat, Report Says
Air pollution is more likely to take years life off the lifespan of the average human than any other external factor, according to a recent report out of the University of Chicago.
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