New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill announced Jan. 8 that Kris Kolluri, current President and CEO of NJ Transit, will retain his role at NJ Transit and also be nominated as Executive Director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA), allowing him to oversee day-to-day operations of both agencies “to unify strategy, rethink how we move people, and ultimately improve the commute for New Jersey residents,” according to the governor’s office. Kolluri will take a $1 salary from NJTA.
“We need a collaborative and creative approach when it comes to addressing challenges and opportunities affecting our state, which is especially true as we update New Jersey’s approach to transit. That’s why I am excited to announce that Kris Kolluri will not only be continuing in his role as President and CEO of NJ Transit but will also be nominated to be the Executive Director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. He brings decades of experience with every major transit agency in the region, and his leadership will be key as we rethink the future of transportation in New Jersey to improve commutes, improve coordination, and make sure New Jerseyans spend more time with family and friends, and less time stuck on a train or on the turnpike. Additionally, as we prepare to welcome tens of thousands of people when we host the FIFA World Cup, Kris will ensure safety and efficiency as we move people on our buses, trains, and highways,” said Governor-elect Sherrill.
Kolluri was appointed to lead NJ Transit, effective Jan. 16, 2025. He is responsible for the nation’s largest statewide public transportation system, with more than 11,000 employees providing more than 944,000 weekday trips on more than 250 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines, and the agency’s Access Link paratransit service. From 2006 to 2008, he was also Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), where he led the effort to increase investment in mass transit and served as Board Chair of NJ Transit and the NJTA and South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) Commissioner, overseeing 17,000 employees.
Prior to his appointment, he served as CEO of the Gateway Development Commission, a bi-state entity overseeing the $16.1 billion Hudson Tunnel Project, the nation’s largest and most urgent infrastructure project. In two years, he transformed the organization from a start-up to one that received the largest investment the federal government has ever made in any mass transit project, closed on the largest Railroad & Rehabilitation Improvement Program loan package in United States history, and initiated construction of the first set of heavy rail tunnels under the Hudson River in more than 114 years.
Previously, Kolluri served as President and CEO of Camden Community Partnership, Inc., a community and economic development nonprofit located in Camden, N.J. He oversaw an organization focused on designing and implementing outcome-focused and resident-driven programs. Under his leadership and in partnership with the local government, the organization implemented a first mile/last mile transportation solution for residents, an innovative job placement program, a once-in-a-generation street improvement program, the development and rehabilitation of six waterfront and neighborhood parks, and a large-scale COVID vaccine site.
He also previously served as CEO of the Rowan University/Rutgers-Camden Board of Governors. During his tenure, he oversaw the development of the first-of-its-kind multi-institutional research and teaching facility and implemented the Medical Assistants Training Program and the Alzheimer’s Patient Navigator Program, which were a pathway to serve a community health need and create jobs for residents.
Kolluri was the CEO of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority, where he oversaw the state’s $5.3 billion school construction program, focused primarily on socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.
Prior to his work in the infrastructure and social equity space, Kolluri worked as a staff member in the United States Congress for more than a decade, eventually becoming a senior policy advisor to House Democratic Leader Richard A. Gephardt. In that capacity, he assisted freshman members of Congress in developing long-term policy initiatives.
“I am excited to lead both NJ Transit and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority alongside Governor-elect Sherrill, who shares a desire to innovate and improve New Jersey’s transit systems,” said Kolluri. New Jersey’s success relies on the Turnpike and NJ Transit working together and by overseeing both agencies, particularly for a major security event like the World Cup, I’ll be able to ensure that we eliminate silos and are working in lockstep to provide better service to the people of New Jersey and those visiting our state. Gov.-elect Sherrill has been laser-focused on improving New Jersey’s transit systems since her time in Congress, and I know that her administration will share that same focus, for the World Cup and beyond.” Kolluri has a Bachelor of Science from Rutgers University and a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University. He was an adjunct faculty member at Rutgers University Law School (2011 & 2012 academic years). He also served on the Rowan University Board of Trustees, and he Southern New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Board.
