Kris Kolluri nominated to head Gateway Development Commission

Kris Kolluri, president and CEO of Camden Community Partnership, Inc., has been nominated by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy to serve as CEO of the Gateway Development Commission.

Kolluri is a New Jersey resident who specialized in redevelopment and transportation law before serving as commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT). While leading NJDOT, he oversaw 17,000 employees and managed more than $3.6 billion in capital funds and more than $2 billion in operating funds. Kolluri also helped develop a funding strategy to meet New Jersey’s contribution towards the Access to the Region’s Core project, a proposed rail tunnel project that would have connected New Jersey and New York and improved passenger rail capacity.

As commissioner of NJDOT, Kolluri also served as chairman of New Jersey Transit, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Authority.

 "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," Gov. Hochul said.

Gov. Murphy added he was confident Kolluri’s leadership will help the region progress the Gateway Program.

“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,” said Gov. Murphy.

The Gateway Development Commission’s Board will consider Kolluri’s nomination at its May 16 meeting. The commission was formed in 2019 from the Gateway Development Corporation to better coordinate efforts with regional partners and work more cooperatively with the federal government to fund and deliver the projects within the Gateway Program.

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg commended Govs. Hochul and Murphy on Kolluri’s nomination.

“Kris Kolluri’s leadership and experience with important infrastructure projects will help him steer this organization at this crucial time. We look forward to working with Kris and the Gateway Development Commission, along with New York, New Jersey, the Port Authority, NJ Transit and Amtrak to deliver this urgently needed project of national significance, including with new resources unlocked by the president’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said Sec. Buttigieg.

"I am honored to be nominated by Governors 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," said Kolluri. "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 [Hudson Tunnel Project] 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 [Hudson Tunnel Project’s] fruition."