Kris Kolluri Confirmed as Next NJ Transit CEO

The NJ Transit board of directors unanimously voted to approve Kris Kolluri as the agency's next president and CEO.
*Photo cropped from the original by Dough4872/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International. Inset photo* *by Don Pollard/Office of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul*

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) announced Kris Kolluri as his pick for New Jersey Transit’s next president and CEO, and the NJ Transit board of directors unanimously voted on Dec. 11 to confirm his nomination to lead the public transit agency. NJ Transit provides commuter rail, bus and light rail services.

Kolluri will replace Kevin Corbett, who recently announced plans to resign in January to take a role in academia.

Kolluri comes from the Gateway Development Commission, the bi-state entity formed by New Jersey and New York to lead rail infrastructure projects along part of the Northeast Corridor between northern New Jersey and New York City, including the $16.1-billion Hudson Tunnel Project and the $1.7-billion Portal North Bridge. NJ Transit trains will use both pieces of infrastructure once they’re completed.

“Kris Kolluri has played a vital role in strengthening our region’s transit infrastructure, and I am confident in his ability to lead NJ Transit as we work to deliver the reliable, efficient and modernized mass transit system that New Jerseyans deserve,” Murphy said in a statement.

Kolluri was named CEO of Gateway in 2022 and served in the role until earlier this fall. During his time leading Gateway, the agency secured funding for the Hudson Tunnel Project —including a record $6.9-billion capital investment grant form the Federal Transit Administration—and completed contracting procurement for several pieces of the project and began construction on both sides of the river.

He has also served in leadership roles with the Camden Community Partnership economic development nonprofit, New Jersey Schools Development Authority, New Jersey Dept. of Transportation, NJ Transit, New Jersey Turnpike Authority and other agencies.

“Over the next year, I look forward to working with the governor and the board to continue putting NJ Transit on a pathway to carry out the improvements that customers expect and deserve,” Kolluri said in a statement.

Corbett did not specify his next role in his Dec. 9 resignation letter, but news outlet ROI-NJ reported it is at the Rutgers school of engineering.

Meanwhile, Gateway is continuing its search for a new CEO. Its chief financial officer, Patrick McCoy, is serving as the acting CEO.

James Leggate is an government news correspondent at ENR. He has reported on a variety of issues for more than 10 years and his work has contributed to several regional Associated Press Media Editors and Murrow award wins.