NJ Transit board selects new head of bus operations

NEWARK, NJ — NJ Transit’s board of directors recently approved Michael P. Kilcoyne as vice president and general manager of bus operations. Kilcoyne has served in this position in an interim capacity since December 2015.

“Michael is a consummate professional and throughout his career at NJ Transit he has made substantial contributions toward improving the overall efficiency and operations of the division,” Executive Director Steven H. Santoro said in a press release. “His forward-thinking, no-nonsense approach toward goal setting and meeting safety benchmarks are a testament to his commitment to our customers and I fully expect that kind of innovative leadership to continue in the future.”

Michael has more than 30 years of transit industry experience, with an extensive background encompassing all aspects of bus operations, customer service, project management and emergency response, according to the release.

He began his transportation career in September 1984 as a bus operator with a private industry bus carrier, serving various local and interstate routes and charter services.

In 1998, he entered the public sector when he began his career at NJ Transit, first running various field locations and later, starting in 2003, serving as NJ Transit’s director of transportation for two divisions in the state: northern and central.

From 2012 through 2015, Kilcoyne served as deputy general manager of bus operations for NJ Transit, a role responsible for operations within the state of New Jersey, including 2,000 peak-period buses operating over 8,500 square miles, and 3,500 employees, as well as the nation’s busiest transportation terminal — the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan. As deputy general manager, he served in a pivotal role in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, coordinating NJ Transit bus operations as the sole source of public transportation in New Jersey until rail service was gradually restored throughout the state, as well as providing alternate bus service for the disrupted PATH system into and out of Hoboken Terminal for months following the storm.

Since December 2015, Kilcoyne has served as acting vice president and general manager of bus operations, ensuring the safe and reliable provision of bus service on 254 routes throughout New Jersey and to and from New York City and Philadelphia, with additional responsibilities in the areas of vehicle maintenance, bus facilities support, labor relations, service planning and budget control.

While in this role, he implemented changes in coordination with the Port Authority of NY & NJ and private carriers to take advantage of expanded gate capacity at Port Authority Bus Terminal during weekday afternoon and evening peak hours to enhance service reliability and further reduce congestion on the platforms. Most recently, he led the corporation’s comprehensive contingency planning efforts for two potential rail work stoppages in 2016.

  NJ Transit