MTA Chair Lhota resigns

Joseph Lhota has resigned as chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced late last week.

As chairman, Lhota stabilized the MTA's subway system and established a new leadership structure to overhaul the agency, Cuomo said in a prepared statement.

Cuomo's statement didn't provide a reason for Lhota's departure, which comes amid MTA New York City Transit's $40 billion proposal to modernize its subway and bus systems.

MTA Vice Chairman Fernando Ferrer is serving as acting chairman, according to the MTA.

Last month, Lhota told local media that he didn't plan on resigning until his term ended in June 2021, The New York Times reported.

Lhota has faced questions over potential conflicts of interest and outside jobs, according to the newspaper. When Lhota was appointed to his second term as chairman in June 2017, he kept his job as senior vice president at New York University's Langone Medical Center and his board position with the Madison Square Garden, which is negotiating with the MTA about the future of Pennsylvania Station, the Times reported.

Lhota previously served as MTA's chairman from January to December 2012, until he stepped down to run for New York City mayor in 2013.