NEWARK -- New Jersey Transit's next director has decided he doesn't want the job.

The Wall Street Journal reports Thursday that former Amtrak executive William Crosbie changed his mind because of concerns over relocating his family from Virginia.

William Crosbie will not take the job as NJ Transit executive director. (Patty Schuchman | New Jersey Transit)

Acting Transportation Commissioner Richard Hammer said in a statement the decision came as a surprise because of the level of mutual enthusiasm they shared when he accepted the offer.

NJ Transit's board on April 6 unanimously approved Crosbie as executive director.

The former chief operating officer at Amtrak oversaw areas including transportation, infrastructure and security. He would have replaced Ronnie Hakim, who left last fall to take a job at New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority.