Department of Transportation

Commissioner
New Jersey Department of Transportation

Francis (Fran) K. O’Connor
Commissioner of NJDOT image

Francis (Fran) K. O’Connor was confirmed as the 20th Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation by the New Jersey State Senate on June 28, 2024. He was nominated for the Cabinet position by Governor Phil Murphy in January 2024 and began serving as Acting Commissioner on February 12, 2024.

A proud native of Jersey City, New Jersey, O’Connor is honored to serve his home state and brings with him more than 40 years of senior-level experience in both the public and private sectors. His industry expertise spans executive leadership, operations, planning, customer service, and oversight of complex, multi-million-dollar projects for public sector clients across the country.

Commissioner O’Connor started his transportation career working as a toll collector for five years at the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA). He credits this hands-on customer service experience with helping shape his people-first approach to leadership. O’Connor advanced to become Deputy Director of the NJTA’s Electronic Toll Collection Program, launching the Authority’s first electronic toll collection system, better known as E-ZPass.

Following his 16 years at the NJTA, O’Connor pivoted to the private sector, advising transportation agencies across the country on the development and execution of critical projects with a strategic focus on toll roads. He served as Vice President and Director of National Tolls at AtkinsRéalis (formerly Atkins), a publicly traded engineering and design company. In this role, he spearheaded projects with the Florida Turnpike Enterprise (FTE), the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), and the North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA) with a focus on all-electronic tolling operations and interoperability.

O’Connor also served as Vice President of Operations at Electronic Transaction Consultants Corporation, and Vice President of Electronic Payment Systems at ACS State & Local Solutions. His broad range of senior roles in the public sector prepared him for engaging with regulator entities at all levels of government, and building cooperative relationships with local governments, regional stakeholders, and partner agencies.

As NJDOT Commissioner, O’Connor is committed to improving safety for every type of roadway user in New Jersey and helping reverse the trend of rising roadway fatalities. He is spearheading a public-facing awareness program to engage motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, and other roadway users, aimed at shifting mindsets around safety and making responsible roadway behavior a way of life.

O’Connor is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Northeast Association of State Transportation Officials (NASTO) and The Eastern Transportation Coalition (TETC) and an Honorary Member of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA).

As NJDOT Commissioner, he serves as Chair of NJ TRANSIT, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, the South Jersey Transportation Authority, and the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority; and Vice Chair of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.

Commissioner O’Connor holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting, graduating summa cum laude from St. Peter’s University.



Last updated date: January 15, 2025 10:47 AM