New Jersey Transit’s CEO and President Kevin Corbett, announced his resignation on Monday, following a seven-year stint at the mass transit agency. He resigned after accepting a job at an undisclosed university in New Jersey in a role connected to the transportation sector, he announced Monday.
“In addition to giving me a chance to spend more time with my family, I have recently accepted a new opportunity with one of our state’s prestigious universities that will allow me to remain deeply connected to the transportation sector, focusing on practical innovation, infrastructure and advocacy for our region,” Corbett wrote in his resignation letter.
He will resign from his post on Jan. 15. According to the New Jersey Globe, former New Jersey Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri will succeed Corbett and serve as president and CEO of New Jersey Transit.
Corbett was commissioned to run the agency in 2018. Before his appointment during the early Murphy administration days, he served as the vice president of AECOM, a global transportation consulting firm. In his resignation letter, Corbett outlined several of his accomplishments including addressing the engineer shortage, installing/testing positive train control and improving bus services for areas abandoned by private carriers.
However, over the past seven years, his role and the agency have had controversy. The agency faced several lawsuits for alleged sexual misconduct within NJ Transit. Also, a flurry of cancellations and delays caused headaches and frustration for commuters and elected officials. Plus, with fares rising, many riders noted it as the worst summer of commuting in years.
“I love the guy,” Gov. Phil Murphy said after a Monday event at Princeton, according to NJ.com. “Seven years. Probably the most difficult job in our government. Maybe with the exception of mine. [Corbett] inherited a mess and notwithstanding the summer that we went through. He’s done a hell of a job under extremely tough circumstances. He [was] dealt an awful hand and played it about as well as you can play it.”
