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Murphy Taps Retired Turnpike Authority Official to Lead State DOT

Ang Santos
/
WBGO

  Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti is a 21-year veteran of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, and currently serves as the CEO of the Florida Turnpike Enterprise.  Governor-elect Phil Murphy says Gutierrez-Scaccetti has the experience to get the best out of the state’s transportation systems.

“We need a strong leader to work alongside our partners at the Port Authority, and our friends in New York and Pennsylvania," Murphy said.  "With our federal government on projects varied as the building of a new bus terminal, and lining up the financing needed to finally at long last move the Gateway Project from drawing board to reality.”

Murphy says he will give his transportation commissioner the power to overhaul New Jersey Transit and says riders have a right to be upset with service.

“They face daily delays without any communication.   They endured a Summer of Hell.  They board trains, when they do come, with broken heating or cooling systems.  And after all of this, they get to read how their fares have been mismanaged and misspent on vacant office space or undeserved pay increases.”

Murphy says no state government agency is currently more mismanaged. Gurierrez-Scaccetti says she’s up to the challenge.

“It is essential for me in leading this department to continue to make sure that you never wake up wonder if you can take the New Jersey Turnpike, or Rt. 287, or Rt. 130 and get to work," said Gurierrez-Scaccetti.  "Or to school with your children, or to important appointments.  And equally important is going to be my ability to help repair what has happened to New Jersey Transit.”