MTA Shakeup: Feinberg Steps Aside, Lieber Takes Leadership Spot

NEW YORK CITY — Janno Lieber will officially become the MTA's head honcho, but he still could see half of his role cleaved away.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday that Lieber will take over as the MTA's CEO and board president starting Saturday, but the governor's controversial plan to split that position in two is still on the table – and departing city transportation chief Sarah Feinberg said she'd consider staying on by taking the board leadership role.

Feinberg will step down from her position as interim New York City Transit president on Friday, she told the New York Post on Thursday. She has led the city's subway and bus systems for a year and a half – a job she said was "24/7" and left her without much time to spend with her family.

"Now’s a good time to make my exit – and to either find other ways to serve, if the Senate chooses to act, or to move on," Feinberg said. "At this point, I have been doing it for 18 months, and it’s important for me to get back some other pieces of my life."

Cuomo nominated Feinberg for the board position last month. If she accepts, she would take over as board president, while Lieber would remain CEO.

Lieber, current president of MTA Construction & Development, said in a statement that he "is excited to get to work leading the MTA's continued recovery from the pandemic," and said he hopes to work alongside Feinberg soon.