Steven Santoro, who oversaw the state's embattled mass transit agency, will step down as executive director of NJ Transit in 90 days.
Santoro, an 18-year agency veteran, who took the helm following the fatal crash of a commuter train in Hoboken Terminal on Sept. 29. 2016, notified the NJ Transit Board of Directors that he plans to leave the post.
He is the second ranking NJ Transit official to resign after the election of Phil Murphy as governor. Murphy called NJ Transit a "national disgrace" last month and vowed to rebuild the agency.
It was unclear Thursday whether Murphy's comments played a role in Santoro's decision to resign, but incoming governors traditionally replace the head of NJ Transit with their own appointee.
"As chief executive, Santoro guided NJ Transit during a very critical time in our history," said Transportation Richard Hammer, who is NJ Transit's board chairman, in a prepared statement.
Santoro also had to answer for the agency's problems to a legislative committee probing NJ Transit after the Hoboken train crash. At the hearings, he admitted the agency had been investigated and cited for safety violations and that the agency was losing employees to neighboring commuter railroads. He also had to answer for crew shortages and canceled trains in July.
Santoro's resignation is effective in April. Deputy Director Amy Herbold resigned in November.
Santoro joined NJ Transit in 2000 as director of the Hudson Bergen Light Rail project and oversaw the project's design, construction, commissioning and start-up. He also managed the design, construction, commissioning and start-up of the River LINE light rail.
He was promoted to chief of capital project management and then to assistant executive director of capital planning and programs, a post he held until named executive director 15 months ago.
"I look forward to ensuring a smooth transition and positioning NJ Transit for future success," Santoro said in a statement.
Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.