Kris Kolluri being considered for CEO of Gateway Development Commission

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The Gateway Development Commission, established in 2019 to coordinate regional projects affecting New York and New Jersey, will consider transportation expert Kris Kolluri’s nomination to head the important agency at its next Board meeting May 16, 2022.

Kolluri, currently the CEO of Camden Community partnership, Inc., was nominated by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and New York Governor Kathy Hochul to CEO of the Gateway Commission May 6 at the Regional Plan Association Centennial Assembly at Chelsea Piers.

The Gateway Development Commission, a partnership between New York, New Jersey and Amtrak that coordinates delivery of the Gateway Program with its partner agencies, including the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and NJ TRANSIT. The Gateway Program—which includes the redevelopment of the Portal North Bridge and a new Hudson River tunnel—is one of the nation’s most pressing infrastructure needs, a press release from the Governors, said.

Kolluri served as the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) from January 2006 until December 2008. In his capacity as DOT Commissioner, Kolluri served as Chairman of NJ TRANSIT, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, and the South Jersey Transportation Authority. While at DOT, Kolluri played an instrumental role in helping develop a funding strategy to meet New Jersey’s contribution towards the ARC project, a nationally significant rail tunnel project that would have connected New Jersey and New York.

At DOT, Kolluri oversaw 17,000 employees, more than $3.6 billion in capital funds, and over $2 billion in operating funds.

“Moving the Gateway Program, and specifically the Hudson Tunnel Project, forward is critically important for our region, and I am confident that Kris Kolluri’s leadership will help us realize these much-needed projects,” Governor Murphy is quoted saying in the press release, noting Kolluri’s years of experience in the transportation sector.

“With his extensive resume, Kris Kolluri brings an extraordinary record of public service and I am confident he will serve New York and New Jersey well as Chief Executive Officer of the Gateway Development Commission,” Governor Hochul said.

“The Gateway Hudson Tunnel is critical to the Northeast corridor serving more than 800,000 passengers daily and is a key component of our plan to build back stronger than ever,” Hochul noted.

Kolluri said he was honored to be nominated by the Governors. “I am equally grateful to have the support of U.S. DOT Secretary Hon. Pete Buttigieg. There is a clear and present opportunity and desire among federal, state, and bi-state partners to advance the Hudson Tunnel Project and the Gateway Program. In the short term, the HTP is poised to move forward and the Commission has a critical role in overseeing the successful delivery of this project. Should my candidacy be approved by the Commissioners, I commit to being singularly focused on ensuring that this collaborative effort results in HTP’s fruition,” Kolluri said

Prior to becoming President & CEO of Camden Community Partnership, Inc., Kolluri served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Rowan University/Rutgers – Camden Board of Governors (Joint Board). Before that, he was Counsel at the law firm of Windels Marx Lane and Mittendorf, where he advised clients on transportation and economic development matters.

Kris also served as the Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority from December 2008 to January 2010.

A graduate of Rutgers University with a law degree from Georgetown University, Washington D.C., Kolluri specialized in redevelopment and transportation law as an attorney at Parker McCay of Marlton.