LIRR taps MTA big as its prez

MTA OPERATIONS chief Phil Eng will take over the troubled Long Island Rail Road service, officials said Thursday.

Eng’s appointment follows LIRR President Patrick Nowakowski’s resignation on Wednesday, which becomes effective Friday. The embattled Nowakowski oversaw the commuter rail during its worst-performing year in nearly two decades.

Eng, a 35-year transportation industry veteran, joins the LIRR after holding the MTA chief operations post since March 2017. The Long Island native also was acting NYC Transit chief and a deputy commissioner and chief engineer at the state Transportation Department.

“My life’s work has centered on conceptualizing the best possible options to make transportation options more reliable, allowing commuters to get where they need to go safely and quickly,” Eng, 56, said.