Pennsylvania Turnpike Names Transportation Veteran as its next Chief Executive Officer

HARRISBURG, PA (03/15/2011)(readMedia)-- The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has named Roger E. Nutt to become the agency's new chief executive officer. Nutt, of Vero Beach, Fla., had worked in senior-level positions at various New Jersey transportation agencies for 28 years, including serving as executive director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, the New Jersey Highway Authority and the New Jersey Transit Corp.

"Roger is a transportation-industry professional with nearly three decades of executive-level experience in highway, transit and tolling organizations," said Pa. Turnpike Commission Chairman William K. Lieberman. "As such, he makes an outstanding choice for the next chief executive of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and we're quite fortunate to have him on board."

Nutt, whose selection was unanimously approved by the five-member commission today at its bimonthly board meeting, succeeds former Turnpike CEO Joe Brimmeier, who retired Jan. 28 after serving eight years as the Turnpike's highest ranking staff member. Nutt, who will soon relocate to the mid-state area, officially assumes CEO responsibilities on Monday, March 21.

"I join the commission at an interesting time in its 70-year history, when people rightfully have higher expectations of government to perform better while spending less. And even though the Turnpike's operation is self-funded without tax dollars, the commission has a duty to serve our customers and the commonwealth," Nutt said. "The commission must intensify efforts to cut costs and leverage technology if it's to succeed in its mission of enhancing mobility and safety across Pennsylvania. I certainly look forward to working with staff and commissioners to achieve that."

The longtime New Jersey resident brings to Pennsylvania a notable public-service career with a transportation-finance focus. He served as project director for the design, construction and opening of the Atlantic City-Brigantine Connector - a 2.5 mile expressway that opened in July 2001 and includes a nearly 2,000-foot tunnel. The $330 million project, undertaken by the South Jersey Transportation Authority, was developed as a Public-Private Partnership (the nation's largest such project), with two-thirds of the funding coming from the public sector and the rest provided by a privately held resort operator.

Nutt also served as executive director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, overseeing operations and capital improvements for the 148-mile toll-road system with 2,000 employees and a $450 million annual budget. Prior to that, he served briefly as executive director of the New Jersey Highway Authority, the agency that oversees the 170-mile, tolled Garden State Parkway.

After serving as executive director of the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority and as executive director of the 8,500-employee New Jersey Transit Authority, Nutt was a consultant for the speaker of the New Jersey Assembly, advising the legislature on critical transportation and financing issues. He began his professional career as a manager in the State Department of Treasury, after which he worked at the New Jersey Department of Transportation for 14 years, serving as finance director and assistant commissioner of finance and administration for the 6,000-employee agency.

Nutt holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J., and a Bachelor of Science degree in commerce from Rider University, Lawrenceville, N.J.