Melinda B. Peters, the head of the Maryland State Highway Administration, resigned on Thursday to spend more time with her family, she said.
Peters is the second agency head under the Maryland Department of Transportation to depart in a week, after Robert L. Smith was pushed out as administrator of the Maryland Transit Administration on Friday following months of skepticism about the MTA's performance from the new administration of Gov. Larry Hogan.
Peters, 41 and on the job for 3 1/2 years, said she voluntarily left her position, and that the decision was "absolutely not" about the political transition under Hogan or fears her job was threatened.
Instead, she said she felt the SHA is in "great hands" and this was a good time to leave as administrator.
"As you can imagine, it is a job that requires 24/7 attention to our customers," she said, "and I've reached a point in my career where it's time for me to make my personal life my first priority."
Peters, who has been at the SHA in one capacity or another for 20 years, has two sons — 16 and 12 — she wants to spend more time with, she said.
She's not in the market for a private sector job yet.
Prior to being named administrator under Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley, Peters managed the construction of the Intercounty Connector for the SHA.
On Thursday, she announced her departure to SHA employees via email.
"It is with great pride in all we have accomplished, that I announce that I have submitted my letter of resignation to" Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn, she wrote, noting she did so with "mixed emotions."
"Together we have accomplished so much and made a difference to all who live and travel through Maryland," she wrote. "Each of you shows every day what public service means."
Erin Henson, a transportation department spokeswoman, confirmed Peters' departure and said Doug Simmons, the SHA's deputy administrator, would assume her responsibilities until a replacement administrator is named.
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