Gov. Phil Murphy appoints Kevin Corbett to turn around troubled NJ Transit

Gov. Phil Murphy is expected to tap transportation veteran Kevin Corbett to head NJ Transit, another step in overhauling an agency he called a "national disgrace."

On Monday, Murphy ordered a comprehensive audit of the troubled agency's finances, personnel practices and operations, after a series of reports in The Record and NorthJersey.com about the troubled agency.

Multiple people with knowledge of the matter said Corbett was the governor's choice to lead the agency. Murphy's office would not confirm Tuesday that the appointment had been made and said no announcement was scheduled.

Corbett, currently vice president of strategic development in the Northeast for AECOM, an international infrastructure consulting firm, doesn't come from a traditional public transportation background.

But he is likely familiar with the transportation challenges facing New Jersey and New York, having served on the boards of the Empire State Development Corp. and the Regional Plan Association.

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Murphy's pick for state transportation commissioner, Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, will also bring a different perspective to the agency as its chairwoman. She was a longtime official at the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and returns to her home state from the Florida Turnpike Enterprise.

Gutierrez-Scaccetti's appointment requires the approval of the state Senate, and Corbett will need to be vetted by NJ Transit's board of directors. Four of the board's members were appointed by Murphy's predecessor, former Gov. Chris Christie.

Murphy has repeatedly called out NJ Transit's management for the agency's troubles.

In the past six months, The Record and NorthJersey.com have published stories that investigated various problems that have plagued the agency. Among them: