Former N.J. Transportation Commissioner Francis O’Connor has been named senior
vice president and business development director at HNTB, a national infrastructure
and architecture firm known for major transportation, transit, bridge and stadium design
work.
O’Connor brings decades of public-sector transportation leadership experience,
including oversight of multimodal systems, tolling operations and major infrastructure
programs. He previously served as chair of NJ Transit and the N.J. Turnpike Authority.
His experience spans executive management, operations, planning, customer service
and oversight of large-scale transportation programs serving public-sector clients
nationwide.
Gary Bua, president of HNTB’s Northeast Division, said the firm is continuing to expand
its national transportation expertise.
O’Connor will support client relationships and strategic growth initiatives, with a
particular focus on transportation agencies and tolling programs nationwide, Bua said.
“Fran has successfully led transportation agencies and understands the operational,
political and customerfacing realities our clients manage every day,” he said. “His
firsthand DOT, tolling and agency leadership experience enhances our ability to advise
clients strategically and deliver solutions that are impactful and forward-looking.”
O’Connor began his transportation career as a toll collector before helping lead the
rollout of EZPass and later overseeing one of the nation’s most complex transportation
systems. He most recently served as the 20th commissioner of N.J. DOT, where he
provided executive leadership for one of the nation’s most complex multimodal
transportation systems.
“Throughout my career, I’ve been focused on delivering transportation solutions that
work for agencies and the people they serve,” O’Connor said. “HNTB’s longstanding
partnership approach and understanding of agency needs align closely with my own
experience, and I’m excited to help clients navigate their most complex challenges.”
Bua said O’Connor’s skillset is a strong addition to the employee-owned firm.
“Fran has successfully led transportation agencies and understands the operational,
political and customerfacing realities our clients manage every day,” he said.
