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Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) recently named Simon Taylor director of planning and statewide research, succeeding Henry Kay, who resigned from the agency in April.

Since January, Taylor has served as MTA’s director and chief operating officer for the Maryland Rail Commuter (MARC) system and commuter bus program. Now, he will be responsible for environmental planning for transit projects and overseeing locally operated transit systems in various jurisdictions.

As head of MARC trains and commuter bus services, Taylor directed daily operations, including transportation, and equipment and facility maintenance. He also managed operating budgets, and helped negotiate operating agreements with Amtrak and CSX Transportation, which own and operate MARC’s three commuter lines.

Taylor previously served as manager and chief operating officer for MARC trains, and manager of service development and commuter bus operations for MTA.

"From our bus efficiency study and the light rail double-track project, to exploring new transit options like bus rapid transit, we are looking at a variety of solutions to improve the transit services in Maryland," said Maryland Transportation Secretary Robert Flanagan in a prepared statement. "Simon’s wealth of experience and knowledge of Maryland makes him ideally suited for this role."