Phil Eng, the M.T.A.’s current COO, will become the new President of the LIRR following the resignation of Pat Nowakowski, as first reported by Newsday.
Eng started working for the M.T.A. in March of last year as COO, after serving for over thirty years at the state Department of Transportation. In late 2017, he had a brief stint as Acting President of New York City Transit, which runs the City’s subways, buses, and paratransit.
M.T.A. Chairman Joe Lhota that Eng, “has shown exceptional leadership and dedication during his time at the MTA, and I know he will bring his enthusiasm for developing a world-class transportation system to the LIRR.”
Eng takes the helm at a time of declining service for the LIRR, with only 83.9% of trains in January arriving within six minutes of schedule.
Nowakowski, appointed as President in 2014, introduced a Performance Improvement Plan last month to try and turn around the railroad.
“I am honored to be chosen to lead the LIRR and its team of talented women and men as we work together to make the daily experience on the trains a better one,” Eng said.
