ransport for London (TfL) boss Andy Byford will depart the organisation on the finish of October.
The organisation mentioned Mr Byford – who turned transport commissioner in June 2020 – will “resume life in the US” and is “closing out a 33-year public service profession”.
TfL’s chief working officer Andy Lord will tackle the position of commissioner on an interim foundation.
The 2 principal priorities Mr Byford set out firstly of his interval in cost – opening the Elizabeth line with out extra delays and main TfL out of the monetary disaster attributable to the coronavirus pandemic – have been achieved, based on the transport physique.
Mr Byford, who was beforehand the boss of New York’s public transport system, mentioned: “It has been an enormous privilege to have served as commissioner, again the place I first began as a station foreman.
“I’ve been blessed to have had such a tremendous transport and public service journey, and now’s the best time to bow out and resume life within the US with my spouse.”
Mr Byford described the opening of the Elizabeth line in Might as “no doubt the spotlight of my profession”.
It was “made actually poignant” by being one of many final main occasions attend by the Queen, he mentioned.
“It was an honour to satisfy her, and an honour to supervise the transport preparations for the ceremonial occasions to mark her passing.”
Mr Byford helped TfL safe a £1.2 billion long-term funding bundle from the Division for Transport (DfT) in August.
He mentioned this implies he can “depart with TfL set truthful to maneuver positively into the longer term”.
The settlement was solely reached after months of robust negotiations between TfL and the DfT.
After the deal was introduced, London mayor Sadiq Khan mentioned it was “removed from best” and warned TfL has a £740 million funding hole in its finances, with fare will increase and repair cuts into consideration alongside effectivity financial savings.
Mr Byford mentioned he “vastly appreciated the help of the mayor”, including that they “navigated some darkish days via the hardest interval in TfL’s historical past”.
Mr Khan mentioned the outgoing commissioner “deserves large thanks for his arduous work and dedication”.
He went on: “Andy has supplied Londoners with an distinctive service and his work has ensured that regardless of the challenges now we have confronted, our public transport community stays world class.”
He added: “I wish to thank Andy Byford for his service to Londoners and, as he and his spouse transfer again to the US, I want all of them the perfect”.
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