Pat Foye Explained

Office1:14th Chairman and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Governor1:Andrew Cuomo
Predecessor1:Joe Lhota
Fernando Ferrer (acting)
Term Start1:April 1, 2019[1]
Term End1:July 29, 2021[2]
Successor1:Janno Lieber
Office2:President of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Appointer2:Andrew Cuomo
Term Start2:August 3, 2017
Term End2:April 1, 2019
Successor2:Position abolished
Office3:Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Appointer3:Andrew Cuomo
Predecessor3:Christopher O. Ward
Term Start3:November 1, 2011
Term End3:August 13, 2017
Successor3:Rick Cotton
Birth Name:Patrick Joseph Foye
Birth Date:31 January 1957
Occupation:Lawyer
Education:Fordham University (BA, JD)
Party:Independent

Patrick Joseph Foye (born January 31, 1957) is an American lawyer who served as Chairman and CEO of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Prior to this role, he served as President of the MTA and Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Life and career

Foye graduated cum laude from Fordham University and attended Fordham Law School, where he served as associate editor for the Fordham Law Review. [3] [4] Foye also received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Fordham University on May 21, 2022.[5] As a lawyer, he worked with Skadden Arps. He was appointed by Governor Eliot Spitzer to be chairman of New York's Empire State Development Corporation and was a board member of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Foye was Deputy County Executive for Economic Development under Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano.[6]

In October 2011, Governor Andrew Cuomo appointed Foye to the post of Executive Director of the Port Authority. Cuomo ousted Christopher O. Ward who was a David Paterson appointee.[7] [8] [9] In November 2015, Foye announced would leave the position in March 2016.[10] In March 2016, Foye announced he would delay his departure from the position until June 2016, as no replacement had yet been named.[11] Foye later decided to remain in his post as executive director.[12] On August 14, 2017, Foye was succeeded by Rick Cotton as Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

In 2017, Foye became President of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). On April 1, 2019, Foye was appointed Chairman and CEO of the MTA by Governor Cuomo with approval from the New York State Senate.[13] In late July 2021, Pat Foye stepped down at the behest of Governor Cuomo to be replaced by Janno Lieber.[14] In September 2021, after Andrew Cuomo stepped down, Foye announced he would not become the CEO of Empire State Development, and allow Kathy Hochul to nominate her own choice.[15]

Since leaving government, Foye has advocated on behalf of ASTM in support of their proposal for a new 8th avenue entrance to Pennsylvania Station (New York City). [16]

Fort Lee lane closure scandal

See main article: Fort Lee lane closure scandal. Foye played a key role in ending an allegedly politically motivated traffic blockage that caused gridlock in Fort Lee, New Jersey for four days in 2013. On Monday, September 9 two of three toll lanes leading to the George Washington Bridge from Fort Lee local streets were closed during morning rush hour. Local officials, emergency services, and the public were not notified of the lane closures, which Fort Lee declared a threat to public safety.[17] The resulting back-ups on local streets finally ended on Friday morning, September 13 when Foye ordered the two lanes reopened immediately. He said that the "hasty and ill-informed decision" to close lanes could have endangered lives and violated federal and state laws.[18]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Patrick J. Foye . Metropolitan Transportation Authority . Metropolitan Transportation Authority . February 21, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200222035738/https://new.mta.info/people/patrick-j-foye . February 22, 2020.
  2. Web site: Cuomo names MTA construction chief Janno Lieber as agency's acting chairman.
  3. Web site: Pat Foye, FCRH ’78, LAW ’81 Receives Honorary Degree at Fordham Commencement. 2022-05-27. Fordham Newsroom. en-US. 2022-06-03.
  4. Web site: Governor Cuomo Names Patrick Foye to Lead the MTA. 2019-04-11. Fordham Newsroom. en-US. 2019-06-07.
  5. Web site: Pat Foye, FCRH ’78, LAW ’81 Receives Honorary Degree at Fordham Commencement. 2022-05-27. Fordham Newsroom. en-US. 2022-06-03.
  6. Web site: Chaban . Matt . Foye-ward! Pat Foye to Lead Port Authority [Updated] | The New York Observer |publisher=Observer.com |date=October 19, 2011 |accessdate=January 11, 2014].
  7. Web site: Patrick Foye Named New Executive Director of NY-NJ Port Authority. O'Grady. Jim. October 19, 2011. WNYC. January 11, 2014.
  8. Web site: Pat Foye, New York Development Chief, Resigns. Brown. Eliot. March 17, 2008. Observer.com. The New York Observer. January 11, 2014.
  9. Web site: How Pat Foye Spends His Days. Brown. Eliot. December 11, 2007. Observer.com. The New York Observer. January 11, 2014.
  10. News: Port Authority head stepping down after being passed over for CEO job. Strunsky. Steve. November 19, 2015. NJ.com. August 1, 2017. en-US.
  11. News: Foye delays departure from Port Authority. Berger. Paul. March 17, 2016. North Jersey. August 1, 2017. en.
  12. News: Cuomo aides: Pat Foye not leaving Port Authority. Lovett. Kenneth. October 17, 2016. NY Daily News. August 1, 2017. en.
  13. News: Cuomo Promised Transparency at the M.T.A. Then Its Leader Was Confirmed While You Slept. The New York Times. April 2, 2019. Fitzsimmons. Emma G..
  14. News: Cuomo names MTA construction chief Janno Lieber as agency's acting chairman. Clayton. Guse. New York Daily News . July 29, 2021.
  15. News: Winzelberg. David. Pat Foye declines ESD leadership post. Long Island Business News. September 7, 2021.
  16. https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2023/06/28/astm-unveils-6b-penn-station-vision/
  17. News: Fort Lee traffic jam caused human debacle. Alcindor. Yamiche. January 9, 2014. USA Today. February 17, 2014.
  18. Web site: PA chief Patrick Foye's email on George Washington Bridge closures. January 10, 2014. Newsday. January 13, 2014.