Middlesex County Commissioner Charles Kenny was elected to a two-year term as Chair of the NJTPA Board of Trustees at its January 12 meeting.

“I am honored by the confidence my colleagues have placed in me to serve as Chair of the NJTPA,” Commissioner Kenny said. “This organization plays a critical role in shaping how our region plans, prioritizes, and delivers transportation projects. I look forward to working with the Board to ensure that federal investments are made responsibly and strategically, with a strong focus on safety, reliability, and long-term regional needs.”

The NJTPA oversees regional transportation planning and partners with local and state agencies to help fund more than $3 billion in transportation investments annually for 13 counties in northern and central New Jersey.

Chairman Kenny said one of the Board’s strengths is its bipartisanship and the different perspectives the members bring from across the region.

At the meeting, the NJTPA Board also selected the remaining members of its Executive Committee: Warren County Commissioner Jason Sarnoski as First Vice Chair; Union County Commissioner Michèle S. Delisfort as Second Vice Chair; and Passaic County Commissioner John W. Bartlett as Secretary. In accordance with NJTPA bylaws, Chairman Kenny appointed Morris County Commissioner Stephen Shaw to the position of Third Vice Chair.

Commissioner Sarnoski, a long-time member, expressed his gratitude to the Board.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to serve as First Vice Chair of the NJTPA,” Commissioner Sarnoski said. “The decisions made here directly affect how communities move people and goods every day. I am especially focused on ensuring that regional planning efforts remain practical, responsive, and grounded in the real transportation needs of our region.”

About the Chair

Commissioner Kenny joined the NJTPA Board of Trustees in 2017 and has held numerous leadership positions during his tenure. He first joined the Executive Committee in 2020 when he was appointed to a two-year term as Third Vice Chair and subsequently served as Second Vice Chair and First Vice Chair. During his service on the Board, he has chaired all three standing committees: Project Prioritization, Planning and Economic Development, and Freight Initiatives.

As Chair of the NJTPA, Commissioner Kenny will lead the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee in guiding regional transportation planning, policy development, and the allocation of federal transportation funding to address the current and future transportation needs of northern and central New Jersey.

His leadership will focus on advancing initiatives that improve safety and reduce congestion through continued implementation of Vision Zero strategies, modernizing and funding public transit, and prepare the region for emerging technologies. These efforts include supporting the safe integration of autonomous and connected vehicles, expanding the use of intelligent transportation systems to improve traffic operations and traveler information, and strengthening data-driven planning through the use of advanced analytics and artificial intelligence to deliver more efficient and equitable transportation outcomes.

Commissioner Kenny has served as a Middlesex County Commissioner since 2013. Prior to his election as Commissioner, he served on the Woodbridge Township Council from 1997 to 2013 and devoted more than three decades to public safety as a member of the Woodbridge Fire Department. He retired after a 35-year career, including service as Fire Chief.