McGreevey Names Warrington as Head of N.J. Transit

Amtrak's Top Executive Heading Home
to Become Executive Director of New Jersey Transit

"George Warrington-a proven leader with years of experience handling major transportation issues in New Jersey-is the ideal person to tackle the challenges confronting NJ Transit," said McGreevey.

McGreevey is charging Warrington with using his strong leadership skills and results-oriented management style to address the overarching problems at NJ Transit such as overcrowding on buses and rails, poor customer service and financial difficulties.

"In addition to addressing the agency's financial problems, I am charging George with taking action to resolve overcrowding and improve the agency's day-to-day reliability," said McGreevey. "Literally, George will be responsible for making sure the trains run on time."

During his tenure at Amtrak, Warrington led the company to all-time record levels of ridership and revenues, while at the same time, building a more efficient, business-focused organization. His tenure was marked by the launch of Acela Express-North America's first high-speed rail service-and operation of a national rail network in the face of financial challenges which included inadequate federal support and conflicting mandates.

"George Warrington is arguably the nation's foremost rail expert. He has led Amtrak to record growth through improved quality of service-which is exactly what New Jersey now needs him to do at NJ Transit," said Fox. "Since September 11, more commuters are relying on New Jersey Transit than ever before. But we will not keep those riders if the system is too crowded. The challenge for George Warrington and New Jersey Transit could not be more clear-to provide a high-quality level of service that will keep more people riding."

Warrington will continue serving as Amtrak's President and CEO until the Board of Directors names an interim successor. The board has already begun a nationwide search for a permanent successor.

"My decision to lead NJ Transit is yet another opportunity for me to make a difference in the transportation field by building the infrastructure and running the operations necessary to make progress happen," said Warrington. "And it provides me with a chance to return to New Jersey."

New Jersey Transit is the nation's third-largest transit agency, with 10,000 employees serving 226 million heavy rail, light rail and bus commuters annually.

GEORGE D. WARRINGTON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
NEW JERSEY TRANSIT

George D. Warrington, 49, who is the current President and CEO of Amtrak, has been chosen to be the next Executive Director of New Jersey Transit.

Appointed in December 1998, Warrington led Amtrak to record growth through improved quality of service and by focusing upon building and diversifying Amtrak's lines of business. During his tenure, he introduced a number of highly successful customer-focused efforts and has significantly increased the company's revenue through passenger growth, expansion of mail and express services, commuter operations and other commercial enterprises.

Warrington's leadership and dedication to modernizing the country's passenger rail system was punctuated in December 2000 with the introduction of Acela Express, the nation's first high-speed train service.

Warrington joined Amtrak in 1994 as President of its Northeast Corridor business unit. Prior to Amtrak, Warrington served as the Executive Director and President of the Delaware River Port Authority and Port Authority Transit Corporation from July 1992 to January 1994. He was the Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation from November 1990 to July 1992.

From November 1988 to November 1990, Warrington served as Vice President and General Manager of New Jersey Transit Rail Operations. He was Deputy Executive Director and Chief of Staff of New Jersey Transit from 1980 to 1988. From 1975 to 1980, he served as Special Assistant to the Commissioner of Transportation and as Assistant to the Director of Commuter Services at the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Warrington currently serves on the boards of directors of the American Association of Railroads, Philadelphia Belt Line Railroad, University of Denver Intermodal Transportation Institute, Mineta International Institute for Surface Transportation Policy Studies, and the Great American Station Foundation. He is also on the advisory board of the Voorhees Transportation Center of the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. In 2000, Warrington was awarded the Salzberg Medallion by Syracuse University for his leadership in the transportation industry.

Warrington received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Syracuse University in 1974, where he graduated cum laude. He received a Masters of Public Administration from the Maxwell Graduate School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University in 1975.