Kolluri tapped to run Gateway Development Commission

Kris Kolluri was officially announced as the nominee to become chief executive officer of the Gateway Development Commission on May 6.

The nomination was jointly announced by Gov. Phil Murphy and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul at the Regional Plan Association Centennial Assembly at Chelsea Piers.

The Commission is a partnership between New Jersey, New York and Amtrak to coordinate the Gateway Program with partner agencies, including the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and NJ Transit. The Gateway Program includes some of New Jersey’s most vital and needed infrastructure projects, such as the Portal North Bridge redevelopment and a new Hudson River tunnel.

Kolluri, a former commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation, played an instrumental role in developing New Jersey’s ARC project funding strategy while overseeing 17,000 employees, more than $3.6 billion in capital funds, and over $2 billion in operating funds. He currently serves as the president and CEO of Camden Community Partnership Inc., an economic and community development nonprofit.

“I am honored to be nominated by Govs. Phil Murphy and Kathy Hochul to be chief executive officer of the Gateway Development Commission. I look forward to meeting the commissioners and supporting their important work,” Kolluri said. “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.”

“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,” said Murphy. “Kris has years of infrastructure management and operations experience, as well as years of government experience, that will be vital as we continue working with our federal partners to get the Gateway Program fully funded and completed. I thank Gov. Hochul for her partnership in selecting a nominee who will help advance these critical projects.”

“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 the chief executive officer of the Gateway Development Commission,” 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. I thank Gov. Murphy for his collaboration on this selection and I look forward to continuing our work to secure federal funding, in partnership with the Biden Administration, for these vital projects and deliver for New York and New Jersey.”

Kolluri’s nomination will be considered by the Gateway Development Commission’s board at its next meeting, which is anticipated for May 16.