Jay H. Walder, chairman and chief executive officer of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) since 2009, announced his plans to resign effective Oct. 21. On Jan. 1, 2012, he will become chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors of the MTR Corporation in Hong Kong.

“The MTA’s transportation system is the foundation of the metropolitan region,” Walder said, “and we are fortunate to have thousands of dedicated men and women who work so hard to provide these critically important transportation services to millions of people each and every day. I believe that we have accomplished quite a lot in a short period, with the support of two governors, the mayor, a hard-working board, and many others.”
 During his tenure with MTA, Walder led an overhaul of the agency’s operations. Under the banner of “Making Every Dollar Count,” he introduced efficiency measures that streamlined the authority’s seven companies and consolidated functions; simultaneously he implemented a customer service agenda that included new fare technology, the introduction of Select Bus Service, and the launch of real-time bus information.
 The MTR operates commuter rail in Hong Kong and intercity rail services from Hong Kong to Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangdong in China.