In addition to the NJ Surface Alignment contract, the Commissioners approved the appointment of John W. Bartlett, Esq., to serve as General Counsel for the Commission. As General Counsel, Bartlett will oversee legal matters related to the Commission’s operations and delivery of the Hudson Tunnel Project, including procurement, contracting, litigation, and commercial negotiations. He will also advise the Commission’s leadership and the Board of Commissioners on legal and regulatory matters.

Bartlett brings decades of legal experience to the role, most recently as a partner at Murphy Orlando LLC, where he has practiced since 2012. He has overseen extensive work advising major public agencies and infrastructure organizations on complex governance, transactional, and operational matters.

Bartlett has also served as a Passaic County Commissioner since 2013. He will vacate this position before joining GDC.

As County Commissioner, he has managed an annual budget exceeding $450 million, supporting a wide range of services for more than 525,000 residents. Bartlett also served for a decade on the Executive Committee of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, including two years as Board Chairman.

The Board also appointed Maria C. Anderson to serve as Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer and Board Secretary. Anderson joined GDC as Deputy General Counsel in January 2024 and has served as Acting General Counsel since August 2024. In the roles of Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer and Board Secretary, she will oversee compliance with the Commission’s enabling legislation, policies, and Code of Conduct; manage governance and administration for the Board of Commissioners; and lead the Commission’s ethics and compliance functions. Anderson was serving in these roles in an acting capacity prior to today’s Board action.

“John has had a distinguished legal career, and his deep knowledge of the law will serve us well. As a public servant, John has demonstrated creativity, tenacity, and a commitment to expanding public transit in our region, all of which align with GDC’s mission to build a reliable, modern rail system that serves everyone who travels between New Jersey and New York. I am proud to welcome him to the GDC team,” said Prendergast. “I am also thrilled that the Board confirmed Maria Anderson to serve as Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer and Board Secretary. Since joining GDC in 2024, Maria has demonstrated strong leadership, sound judgment, and a high level of legal and administrative expertise, and I am glad she will remain a core part of the GDC team going forward.”