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Sarles
chosen to replace Warrington as NJ Transit chief
NJ Transit's new executive director rides Amtrak to work. By selecting Richard R. Sarles on Monday to run New Jersey's mass transit agency, state leaders at once chose a familiar face and someone who has spent much of his professional and leisure time in the cradle of public transportation.
Sarles, 62, hops an
Amtrak train every morning to get from his home in
Philadelphia to his office in Newark. As a
youngster, his family didn't have a car, so he rode
the bus almost everywhere. "If you wanted to go the
movies, or go to a restaurant, or go shopping, you
hopped on a bus and got there," said Sarles, who
grew up in Nutley and will relocate to New Jersey
for his new job. "I've lived my life that way."
For the past five years, Sarles has managed NJ Transit's largest projects, including its quest to build a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River. George D. Warrington, Sarles' predecessor, added trains to the system, but both men insist a new tunnel is the only way to relieve the overcrowding that bedevils the morning and evening commutes. Five other candidates The officials who picked Sarles wanted a new executive director who understood such major projects and would move them forward. They did not see the need for a reassessment of the agency's operations, which happened after Warrington arrived in 2002. "Governor Corzine was very satisfied with NJ Transit and was very surprised that George left," said Martin E. Robins, a senior fellow for transportation at Rutgers University, who served on the committee that interviewed Sarles and other candidates. "This [hire] is actually a validation of the fact that George's tenure was as successful as it was." Sarles, who previously worked at Amtrak and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, edged out at least five other candidates who were interviewed. Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri declined to name them, but said three of them had run agencies. The board set Sarles' salary at $252,000, almost $40,000 less than Warrington earned. The former executive director's salary was higher because officials lured him away from the presidency of Amtrak five years ago. Kolluri said Sarles' performance would be judged every year based on safety, reliability, financial health and progress on the new tunnel. A nuts-and-bolts guy Several officials described Sarles as a reserved personality who focused on the nuts and bolts of public transportation. As one of Warrington's top deputies, he shared a title that several other directors held, but was essentially viewed as a first among equals. "I would describe him as an understated leader, but he's al-ways amazingly in command of the facts," said Kenneth E. Pringle, a board member from Belmar. Sarles has supported the need for a 10 percent fare increase, which the board could approve this month. Sarles said regular fare increases are necessary to divide the burden of funding between customers and taxpayers. But several experts said Sarles' biggest challenge will be identifying more funding for the growing agency. "They need more money, and they are going to have to face up to it," Robins said. Sarles said his top priorities include improving the system's convenience by better integrating trains and buses. Those connections are viewed as vital for customers who take mass transit to travel between suburban destinations. "The transit system is good today, and it's going to get better," Sarles said. "You are going to want to get out of your car." E-mail: michaels@northjersey.com Copyright © 2006 The Record
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