Skip to content

Thursday’s Headlines: Andy Byford Back on Top Edition

Our beloved Train Daddy is shipping off to London to run not only a large transit system, but help Mayor Sadik Khan eat Mayor de Blasio's lunch on street safety. Plus all the other news.
Thursday’s Headlines: Andy Byford Back on Top Edition
The New York public really loved Andy Byford, seen here in happier times. Photo: Gersh Kuntzman

News broke yesterday that our Train Daddy is now going to be Tube Daddy — yes, Andy Byford is going to run Transport for London.

The Post played it straight. The Daily News played up the magnitude of the job — Byford won’t merely be running the bus and subway system, but also have a hand in the “street network, taxi service, trams and river ferries,” too. The Times played up Byford’s epic clashes with Gov. Cuomo. And, oddly, NY1’s story by Dan Rivoli had a London dateline.

Here was the rest of the news from yesterday:

  • The car-loving New York Times did a whole story about the glory of the SUV, yet writer Tom Voelk devoted not a single word to the commensurate rise in deaths outside these assault cars. Where is the public editor when you need her?
  • The Tri-State Transportation Campaign is the latest group to create its own rider survey. Take it, here. (And, in case you missed it, the group’s executive director, Nick Sifuentes, had a Crain’s op-ed the other day about regional planning.)
  • Chicago was way behind New York City on open streets, but it’s way ahead of us on opening streets for restaurants (NY Post). Meanwhile, Mayor de Blasio called his dithering a “badge of honor” in a comment to Streetsblog (The Post also covered that, minus the sauciness).
  • Meanwhile, if you scroll down, Gothamist broke the news that the City Council will today take up a measure to — again! — supersede the mayor and create open streets for restaurants.
  • Gov. Cuomo said he had a nice talk with President Trump about infrastructure (NY Post, WSJ) — even as a watchdog group said his Port Authority is wasting money left and right (Streetsblog).
  • Mark Hallum at amNY reported more evidence that subway ridership is increasing by the day, but it’s still very very low.

Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.

Comments are closed.

More from Streetsblog New York City

Opinion: Sean Duffy’s ‘Golden Age’ of Dangerous Streets

Ethan Andersen
December 15, 2025

‘I’m Always on the Bus’: How Transit Advocacy Helped Katie Wilson Become Seattle’s Next Mayor

December 12, 2025

Watchdog Wants Hochul To Nix Bus Lane Enforcement Freebies for MTA Drivers

December 11, 2025

More Truck Routes Are Coming To A Street Near You

December 11, 2025

Upstate County’s New Bus Service Will Turn A Transit Desert Into A Rural Network

December 11, 2025
See all posts