MTA chairman and CEO Jay Walder abruptly announced his resignation Thursday, letting Governor Andrew Cuomo know he will need to be replaced after October 21.
Walder accepted a position at the MTR Corporation in Hong Kong, a company that operates rail services in Asia and Europe, where he will serve as the CEO and a member of the Board of Directors.
Walder joined the MTA in 2009, and oversaw the city’s public transportation system through both bad and good times.
Walder implemented controversial service cuts like the elimination of the W line and fair hikes, such as raising the cost an unlimited monthly pass to $104.
But he was also the driving force behind several projects that pleased subway and bus riders, such as the introduction of the Select Bus Service and the installation of countdown clocks.
“In challenging times, we brought stability and credibility to the MTA by making every dollar count, by delivering long overdue improvements and by refusing to settle for business as usual,” Walder said in a statement.
