Commissioner
New Jersey Department of Transportation

The Honorable James S. Simpson

Just after Governor Christie took the oath of office, Jim was among the first cabinet members on the job. In his capacity as Commissioner, Jim serves as Chairman of NJ TRANSIT, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, the South Jersey Transportation Authority and the Transportation Trust Fund Authority overseeing a total of 17,000 employees, more than $3.6 billion in capital funds and over $2 billion in operating funds. He also serves on the Motor Vehicle Commission Board and the State's three Metropolitan Planning Organizations' Boards.

Prior to his appointment as Commissioner of Transportation for the State of New Jersey, Jim served as Chairman of both a transportation infrastructure management company and a corporate relocation company.

In 2005, President Bush nominated Jim to serve as Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration, serving until the end of 2008. Prior to his confirmation, Jim served briefly as the Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Transportation. In 2004, Jim was appointed to the St. Lawrence Seaway Board at the US Department of Transportation. Jim has been confirmed by the United States Senate twice.

At the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Jim managed an annual budget of more than $10 billion and led a staff of more than 1,000 employees and contractors in Washington, D.C. and ten regional offices around the country. Jim's primary duties included: serving as the nation's Chief of public transportation; approving the funding of transportation infrastructure projects; communicating the Administration's key initiatives on public transportation; and disseminating policy guidance to Congress and transportation stakeholders. Under Jim's leadership, the FTA oversaw $30 billion of transit construction.

In 1995, New York Governor George E. Pataki appointed and the State Senate confirmed Jim as a Commissioner of the New York State Metropolitan Transportation Authority, where he served for 10 years.

Former Governor Pataki also appointed Jim as a member of the New York State Job Development Authority. Under Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's administration, he was appointed Honorary Deputy Police Commissioner for the New York Police Department. Jim also represented the City Council at the New York State Financial Control Board for nine years and served on numerous not-for-profit boards.

Jim worked as a tractor-trailer driver while attending St. John's University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He is a David Rockefeller Fellow; and is a pilot rated for Jet Aircraft. Jim is married with four children.