James Schultz was elected chairman of the board overseeing operations of the bi-state Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) and Port Authority Transit Corp. (PATCO) Feb. 21.

Schultz, an attorney, policy advisor and corporate executive, joined the DRPA board of commissioners last August. He was appointed by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. Schultz currently serves as Scientific Game’s executive vice president of global public policy and government affairs.

In the DRPA role, he leads an agency with a $188.6 million annual operating budget, a $794.2 million five-year capital budget, and an 823-member workforce. The organization is tasked with overseeing the Ben Franklin, Walt Whitman, Commodore Barry and Betsy Ross bridges. It also supervises the PATCO transit line.

The agency operates under the administration of a 16-member board, which Schultz now heads, with eight representatives from each state.

A ‘well-suited’ pick

“As a Pennsylvanian who grew up in New Jersey, it is an honor to serve as the next Chairman of the Delaware River Port Authority and PATCO,” said Schultz in a press release. “I am grateful to Gov. Shapiro for the trust he has placed in me and my fellow commissioners with whom I look forward to carrying out our mission of providing safe, reliable, and efficient transportation services. I also wish to thank Mayor [Cherelle] Parker for her service and for leaving the Authority in such a strong position.”

DRPA Vice Chairman Jeffrey Nash said Schultz’s experience at the highest levels of the public sector and as an entrepreneurial business leader will greatly benefit the board and the community.

“I look forward to working closely with Chairman Schultz as we continue to strive for excellence and pursue our mission,” said Nash.

“We are excited to have Commissioner Schultz taking on this important chair role at DRPA and PATCO,” said DRPA CEO John Hanson. “His extensive background, deep understanding of policy and advocacy, coupled with his ability to foster collaboration, make him well-suited to guiding the DRPA and PATCO toward continued success in creating value for the public we serve.”