New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has nominated Indian American civil engineer Priya Jain as the next Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation. A BITS Pilani graduate and Morris County resident, Jain brings extensive global infrastructure expertise to lead one of the nation's oldest transportation systems.
Her appointment, announced just days after Sherrill's inauguration on January 20, 2026, signals a strategic shift toward private-sector efficiency in managing New Jersey's ambitious infrastructure agenda.
Key Facts
• Priya Jain, a civil engineer and former President of Americas at Mace Consult, was nominated by Governor Mikie Sherrill on January 19, 2026, to serve as NJDOT Commissioner, succeeding Francis O'Connor.
• The nomination prioritizes three critical mandates: preparing transportation infrastructure for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, advancing the Gateway Tunnel project, and reducing commute times while streamlining New Jersey's permitting process.
• Jain will collaborate closely with Kris Kolluri, who oversees both NJ Transit and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, marking a coordinated leadership structure to modernize the state's transit system.
Jain's professional journey reflects a deep commitment to complex infrastructure delivery. Early in her career, she worked as an engineer on the original Access to the Region's Core (ARC) Tunnel project, a New Jersey Transit expansion that was ultimately cancelled in 2010.
This experience shaped her understanding of the state's transportation challenges and opportunities.
Most recently, Jain led strategic growth at Mace Consult, an international engineering and consultancy firm. Her portfolio spans New Jersey, the United States, and projects across the globe.
Governor Sherrill emphasized Jain's proven ability to build new infrastructure from the ground up and manage the intricate technical, financial, and logistical details of large-scale programs.
The timing of this nomination reflects New Jersey's urgent infrastructure timeline. The 2026 FIFA World Cup demands completion of key transportation improvements to handle international visitors seamlessly.
Additionally, the state faces mounting pressure to repair aging roads and bridges—many among the oldest in the nation—while reducing commute times that plague daily commuters.
Jain has pledged to cut through bureaucratic barriers that delay projects. She emphasized her commitment to reducing commute times, enhancing road safety, improving transit access, and advancing the long-delayed Gateway Tunnel project.
Notably, she plans to expand bus services to underserved communities, particularly in South Jersey, while simultaneously upgrading deteriorating infrastructure statewide.
The nomination comes amid broader concerns about climate resilience and equitable transportation access. New Jersey's aging infrastructure faces increasing climate-related stresses, from intense storms to sea-level rise.
Jain's mandate includes integrating resilience planning into project development while balancing competing demands within tight fiscal constraints.
Kris Kolluri, CEO and President of NJ Transit, expressed confidence in the appointment. He stated,
Jain's nomination awaits confirmation by the New Jersey State Senate. If confirmed, she will lead NJDOT during a transformative period for the state's transportation infrastructure.
Her private-sector background and global project management expertise represent a strategic pivot in how New Jersey approaches public infrastructure delivery and stakeholder coordination.
Do You Know?
Priya Jain's early experience on the Access to the Region's Core (ARC) Tunnel project—which aimed to expand New Jersey Transit capacity but was cancelled in 2010—provides her with firsthand knowledge of the state's most ambitious transportation challenges and lessons learned from past project complexities.
Key Terms
• Gateway Tunnel: A major commuter rail project connecting New Jersey and New York through a new rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River, designed to increase passenger capacity and reduce congestion.
• Permitting Process Reform: Streamlining government approval procedures to reduce delays and costs associated with infrastructure project authorization and implementation.
• Infrastructure Resilience: The ability of transportation systems to withstand and recover from climate-related challenges such as flooding, storms, and long-term environmental changes.
• NJ Transit: New Jersey's public transportation authority responsible for buses, light rail, and commuter services across the state and into New York City.
• NJDOT (New Jersey Department of Transportation): The state agency responsible for maintaining roads, bridges, and coordinating transportation policy and infrastructure projects.
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