Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has nominated Sarah E. Feinberg as chair of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and appointed John “Janno” Lieber as the agency’s CEO.

If Feinberg’s nomination is approved by the New York Senate, she will become the first woman to serve as chair and take the post after leading New York City Transit (NYCT) through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Feinberg has served as interim president of NYCT since March 2020.

"I am thrilled to be stepping into a position that allows me to continue to play a significant role in how our subway and bus systems operate, but to also have even more of an impact in shaping the future of the agency, and of transportation in this city and region,” Feinberg said. “There should be no higher priority than ensuring we are doing all we can to bring ridership back — and as ridership comes back, so will the city's economic recovery."

Lieber will serve as CEO effective July 30 after shaping the agency's $51.5 billion capital plan and driving the agency's construction efforts during the COVID crisis as president of MTA construction and development.

Patrick Foye, who has led the agency as president as well as chairman and CEO for the past four years, will leave the agency on July 30 and will step into a new role as interim president and CEO of the state's economic development arm, Empire State Development.

"Sarah, Janno, and Pat are not only fiercely dedicated public servants, but proven leaders who kept the metropolitan region's transportation network operating efficiently through the worst public health crisis in a generation, and thanks to their tireless efforts, our essential workers were able to get to their destinations and help save lives," Cuomo said. "Moreover, they oversaw and pushed through historic change and construction progress across the MTA, giving the system the upgrades that will better serve riders for generations."

Prior to her work at NYCT, Feinberg was the second woman in history to lead the Federal Railroad Administration. She also previously served as chief of staff at U.S. DOT and special assistant to the President and senior advisor to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

Meanwhile, Lieber previously served as president of World Trade Center Properties for 14 years where he managed the multi-billion-dollar development of Silverstein Properties' projects at the World Trade Center. Before that, he headed public-private development at Lawrence Ruben Company, and, as a consultant, worked with clients such as Chicago Transit Authority, New Jersey Transit, and Penn Station Redevelopment Corp.