Gov. Phil Murphy has named a new director for the embattled transit agency that he recently termed "a national disgrace."

Kevin Corbett awaits approval by the New Jersey Transit board.

Corbett is an executive with AECOM, an international infrastructure consulting firm. Previously, Corbett oversaw the economic redevelopment of Lower Manhattan after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. He also has served on the board of the Regional Plan Association, a transportation think tank.

Corbett said Tuesday he welcomes the challenge and said an immediate step that could improve performance would be to improve accountability when trains suffer equipment problems.

Murphy previous issued an audit of NJ Transit after frequent delays, safety issues and management defections He said that the audit should take about three months to complete.

Officials also said Tuesday that progress on the positive train control safety system has been slow. 

New Department of Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti says that the required speed safety system may not be installed by the Dec. 31 deadline. The safety system was ordered into place after several train derailments, including one in Hoboken that killed a woman.

Corbett won’t officially take office until the NJ Transit Board of Directors approves his appointment.