LIRR President Resigning After Streak of Poor Train Performance

Long Island Rail Road President Patrick Nowakowski is resigning.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Joseph Lhota released a statement Wednesday night thanking Nowakowski for his four years of "steady and evenhanded leadership."

"I thank Pat for his service to LIRR customers and his steady and evenhanded leadership of the railroad at a time when external events caused challenges for the railroad, particularly Amtrak's renewal of tracks and infrastructure at Penn Station that the entire LIRR depends on," said Lhota.

The outgoing president said it was time for new leadership to continue the progress the railroad has made in improving customer service.

The commuter railway has been beset by numerous service complaints. Last year marked the LIRR's worst on-time performance in 18 years.

Nowakowski will be succeeded by Philip Eng, who was appointed the MTA's Chief Operating Officer last month.