NJ Transit Employee From Langhorne Receives Award

LANGHORNE, PA — A NJ Transit employee from Langhorne has been recognized as a rising star by a prominent railroad publication.

Jonathan Kirby, 36, the Chief Road Foreman for NJ TRANSIT’s PTC system, has been named to Railway Age’s“Fast Trackers” 25 Under 40 awards for 2022.

“NJ TRANSIT applauds the selection of Jonathan Kirby for this prestigious, nationwide honor,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett. “Jonathan played an integral role on the team that achieved full PTC certification before the December 2020 federal deadline, and we congratulate him on receiving this well-deserved distinction.”

Kirby was a leading member of NJ TRANSIT’s team that implemented the critical certification of PTC. He oversaw the certification process that led to the agency meeting the December 31, 2020 deadline set by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

According to NJ Transit, PTC is a technology that enhances rail safety by monitoring and controlling train movements. By using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, Wi-Fi, and high band radio transmission, PTC is capable of automatically controlling train speeds and movements, thereby reducing the risk of accidents due to human error.

“PTC is continuing to evolve as new technology evolves,” Kirby said. “We will be ready to implement it.”

Born in Audubon, New Jersey, Kirby is a graduate of The College of New Jersey in Ewing. He currently resides in Langhorne, and he has been with NJ Transit for 14 years.

“It was a great feeling that we made the deadline,” said Kirby. “It showed the importance of good teamwork. I was fortunate to be a part of a very good team.”