One-on-one with Kris Kolluri: Opening new corridors for transit system

Kris Kolluri has a specialization in redevelopment and transportation law as an attorney.

And that is exactly what he has been doing with the New Jersey transportation system – revamp it. NJ has the largest state-run mass transit system in the country and it has been a daunting task to fix its infrastructural shortcomings. However, his commitment to the cause, has lead to much needed relief to the transit users. "It is very important to be grounded in life. The measure of how well I am doing as the Governor's Cabinet member is what people say when they drive on the New Jersey roads or ride the mass transit system. That is the most meaningful metric that I try to hold myself to," says the 40-year-old.

Excerpts of the interview continued from last week.

SATimes: How have you coped up with rising gas prices that has resulted in an increase in ridership on the New Jersey mass transit system?

Kolluri: We have tried to add service where the demand exists. We have heavy demand on the North-East Corridor, Montclair area and certain points on the shore. But there is a physical limitation to how much we can accommodate. There are 12 cars in a train and we are limited by the length of the platform. Again, we have only one tunnel going into New York. So you can add two extra cars, but there is a limitation to number of trains that can travel into New York every hour. We have tried to supplement this by the bus service and by multi-level cars.

SATimes: What about mass transit into Philadelphia, another big city in the vicinity. Currently there is no direct train to that city. Any plans of starting a service?

Kolluri: That decision is not in our hands. It is with Amtrak, which runs the trains. Currently we have a service to Trenton, from where one has to get onto a SEPTA train to reach Philadelphia. In South Jersey, the Delaware River Port Authority runs a PATCO service. NJ Transit runs a train from Atlantic City into Philadelphia. We also have a very good bus network. The Governor has also committed to expanding the PATCO into Gloucester county and areas towards the shore, where the development is coming up.

SATimes: This is a time of economic crisis for NJ. However, you have ambitious projects like expansion of the highways. Is this the right time?

Kolluri: We don't do it because it's a luxury, we do it because its a necessity. We are a 'fix-it first' state. We are not widening everywhere. All we are doing is capacity expansion. We spend money on making sure that the bridges and roads are safe. And, if we don't do that, the economy is going to come to a grinding halt.

The NJ Turnpike unlike any other road, is a major commercial route. At Exit 8A, the number of lanes reduces to three from six. This creates enormous congestion. If we want the port on Exit 14 to function properly, we need to widen the Turnpike. The Garden State Parkway, in some sections, is still a two-lane road. We can't have almost four million trips every year on a two-lane road. These projects are crucial for economic sustenance and growth. But we currently don't have the money for them.

SATimes: Governor Corzine's proposal to increase tolls or to privatize the NJ highways to pay the State's debts has been discarded. What is your reaction?

Kolluri: Our focus is the future. We have an infrastructure crisis. We need a solution that is rational and sustainable. And that requires coming together on a bipartisan basis of policy makers. We need to decide how important our economy and quality of life is and then make a decision about how we are going to solve the infrastructural problem. And if we don't do this, we are going to lose ground as an economy because everyone in the world is moving faster than we are in infrastructural development. In the event of privatization of the highways, the state would have retained the ownership of the roads and it would have been in public benefit.

SATimes: Tell us about the 511 service.

Kolluri: This is to deal with congestion on the highways. We don't want to widen the roads unless we have to. Vehicle miles traveled across the country grow by about 1-2% every year. If people travel by the roadways, it will lead to congestion. We are trying to give them real time information so they can plan ahead. Would it not be nice that we get an email notification regarding an accident on the road which we are planning to take? That is congestion management and that's what 511 intendeds to do. So that people can make thoughtful decisions on alternative modes of transportation.

We are also trying to make sure that we have a good emergency patrol service. We are working on a bill called Rapid Response and Roadway Clearance. So it is not just reliance on one solution to solve congestion, but having multitude of solutions. 511 is one of them. Best part is, it is paid by the Federal Government so tax payers in NJ don't pay for it.

SATimes: What are your views on telecommuting?

Kolluri: Telecommuting is a good option, specially in an environment where there are high fuel prices and congestion. One way to manage that is to make sure you give people the option to telecommute. Corporate America is doing this well. This is the way to future. It works very well and is a way to reduce consumption of fuel.

SATimes: When you first took this job, did you have any idea it would be this challenging?

Kolluri: I don't think you quite comprehend how challenging this is till you actually occupy the chair. I feel I have had a very unique opportunity. Its been almost 24 years since I have been in the US and most of my time was spent in public service. I would not do anything different if I had to do it all over again. I feel very lucky. I am honored to do this job.

SATimes: As an expert on transportation system, what is your view of the Indian Railways, which has been totally revamped by Laloo Prasad Yadav?

Kolluri: India has one of the largest and the most vibrant rail system in the world. Even by the sheer volume of people it carries. And, if you see the Delhi subway system and the other subways that are being built in cities like Hyderabad, its is a clear reflection of the political leadership's vision to move the mass transit system to the next level. Delhi Metro is as good as the subways systems in some of the other countries.

I think Laloo Prasad Yadav, along with the Central Government, has revolutionized the way mobility happens in India. Sky is the limit. Their challenges are similar to ours. Their need is close to $500 billion over the next decade, we need close to $2 trillion. But is is remarkable to see that level of progress happen in such a short period of time.

SATimes: As an Indian-American, what are your views on the current state of affairs between the two countries?

Kolluri: The nuclear deal is probably the biggest symbolic representation of whats happening between the two countries. When I was a staffer on the Capitol Hill, the relationship between the two countries was in its infancy. And, here you are less than two decades later, there is enormous energy between the two countries. I think its just the beginning. The opportunities are enormous.

SATimes: Indian-Americans in politics, do you think we have done enough to make our presence felt?

Kolluri: The proliferation of Indian-Americans into this field is a refreshing change. Again, we are still in our infancy and we can participate in the system at a much larger extent. I have always felt that the community is a very meaningful participant but its time for us to become a meaningful contributor. You are seeing that happen in a very profound way.

SATimes: What are your personal aspirations?

Kolluri: To do a good job as the Commissioner of Transportation.

By Juhi Jhunjhunwala Dhingra