NEW YORK - A critical figure at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is hanging up his hard hat.

Sources tell NY1 that MTA Capital Construction President Michael Horodniceanu is retiring.

He had been at the helm of the authority's construction wing since 2008 where he oversaw major expansion projects in the city's transit system including the Hudson Yards 7 train extension, the Second Avenue subway, and the Fulton Center station.

Before joining the MTA, the Romanian-born engineer had served as the city's Traffic Commissioner in the late 80s.