In the lead up to Mikie Sherrill’s inauguration, the governor-elect is making it clear that her leadership will not be business as usual. Her latest announcement: reshaping New Jersey’s transportation leadership by placing NJ Transit and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority under a single executive.
Sherrill announced that NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri will remain in his current role while also being nominated to serve as executive director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA), which oversees both the Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway.
The move condenses control of the state’s busiest transit systems—buses, trains, and highways—under a single leader, an uncommon structure that aims to improve efficiency, coordination, and reduce long-standing operational silos.
Kolluri will assume the added responsibilities without a notable pay raise, accepting a symbolic salary of $1 from the T while taking a symbolic salary of $1 from the NJTA, according to New Jersey Globe.
Sherrill has made fixing NJ Transit a central priority under her leadership. Her transition team says the move looks to unify planning, operations, and decision making across agencies that often intersect. The Sherrill camp views Kolluri as a capable leader, well-equipped to handle the responsibilities required under each agency.
The announcement comes as New Jersey prepares for a surge in travel during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is expected to bring tens of thousands of visitors into North Jersey via NJ Transit and the Turnpike. State officials say integrated leadership will be critical for managing transit logistics, traffic flow, and public safety during the international event.
Kolluri replaces longtime Turnpike Authority executive Jim Carone, who is retiring after decades of service.
Kolluri brings deep institutional experience to the role. He previously served as New Jersey’s transportation commissioner, led the Gateway Development Commission overseeing the Hudson River rail tunnel project, and has held leadership roles across transportation, infrastructure, and public-sector development.
Supporters argue that placing NJ Transit and the Turnpike Authority under unified leadership could streamline planning, improve service reliability, and speed up responses during major disruptions or high-traffic events.
The appointments signal that Sherrill is taking a different approach than Murphy. It’s an early effort to centralize authority and accelerate improvements needed across New Jersey’s transportation network.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.