Former NJ Transit CEO Kevin Corbett Now Teaching At Rutgers

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — Kevin Corbett, the former CEO of NJ Transit, will join the Rutgers School of Engineering on Feb. 15 as a senior fellow of transportation studies.

In 2018, Corbett was appointed by Gov. Phil Murphy to run the mass transit agency, and he announced his resignation in December 2024.

He was supposed to modernize and improve NJ Transit service, but his tenure saw many challenges: He was in charge of NJ Transit during the pandemic, and ridership still has not fully returned to pre-pandemic levels (as of September 2024, NJ Transit ridership was still only at 80 percent of what it was before the mass COVID shutdown of offices and workplaces).

Also, NJ Transit saw an increasing number of train delays and cancellations under Corbett's tenure. At the same time, there was a 15 percent fare increase in summer 2024.

When Corbett resigned last month, Gov. Murphy appointed Kris Colluri, the former CEO of Gateway Development Commission, to run NJ Transit.

However, some achievements under Corbett included the implementation of Positive Train Control systems; starting the replacement project of the century-old Portal Bridge over the Hackensack River and the introduction of NJ Transit’s first-ever electric buses.

Corbett previously held leadership roles at infrastructure consulting firm AECOM, overseeing major projects including Moynihan Station Phase One in Manhattan, the Second Avenue Subway–Phase One and Amtrak’s Gateway Program. He also led global marine and freight operations at DMJM+Harris and other AECOM subsidiaries.

"I am very excited to join Rutgers University as a senior fellow of transportation studies," said Corbett. "Mentoring students, young faculty and research professionals will be a key focus, as we work together to develop creative solutions to transportation challenges in New Jersey, the region and the nation."