Overview
- Mamdani introduced Flynn at a private midnight swearing-in in the Old City Hall subway station, giving the new commissioner unusual prominence on day one.
- Flynn, a onetime DOT director who later led TYLin’s New York transportation practice, replaces Ydanis Rodriguez.
- In early remarks, Flynn prioritized reviving shelved street projects such as the Fordham Road bus improvements, staffing up the agency, and rebuilding community trust.
- DOT can accelerate service through protected bus lanes and street redesigns, but any move to eliminate fares would require an agreement with Governor Kathy Hochul and the MTA.
- Transit advocates and experts, including Riders Alliance and Sam Schwartz, praised the pick as the city faces missed Streets Plan targets and pressure to deliver more bus and bike lanes.