Union County Commissioner Michèle S. Delisfort Elected Second Vice Chair of North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority

Union County Commissioner Michèle S. Delisfort was elected to a two-year term as Second Vice Chair of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) at the January 12 Board of Trustees meeting.

"I am honored that my fellow Board members have entrusted me to serve as Second Vice Chair," Commissioner Delisfort said. "The NJTPA provides a forum for collaboration and offers a vital regional perspective on transportation issues, whether it's considering the critical role freight plays in our local economy or prioritizing funding for much-needed safety improvements, like the $11 million the Board approved at our January meeting for Union County to upgrade seven intersections, including new signals, high visibility crosswalks, and improved lighting."

The NJTPA oversees regional transportation planning and partners with local and state agencies to help fund more than $3 billion in transportation investments annually for 13 counties in northern and central New Jersey.

Commissioner Delisfort became Union County's representative on the Board this year. She previously served as an alternate on the NJTPA Board, since joining the Union County Board of Commissioners in 2023. She will be serving as Chair of the Planning and Economic Development Committee for 2026-2027. Additionally, Commissioner Delisfort is the first Haitian-American member of the Executive Committee.

The Commissioner is a distinguished planning professional with 30 years of experience in the field. In 2019, the American Planning Association honored her with the Outstanding Planner Award in recognition of her exceptional contributions to the profession. She currently serves as the Principal and Managing Partner of Nishuane Group, LLC, an urban planning consultancy firm. In addition, she is the newly elected President of the American Planning Association-New Jersey Chapter. Prior to joining the County Board of Commissioners, she served as Mayor of Union Township.

NJTPA Board of Trustees Executive Committee

At the meeting, the NJTPA Board also selected four other members of its Executive Committee. In addition to Commissioner Delsifort, the elected members of the Executive Committee are Middlesex County Commissioner Charles Kenny, Chair; Warren County Commissioner Jason Sarnoski, First Vice Chair; and Passaic County Commissioner John W. Barltett, Secretary. In accordance with the bylaws, Chairman Kenny appointed Morris County Commissioner Stephen Shaw to the position of Third Vice Chair.

The Executive Committee provides guidance and leadership to the full Board on a wide range of planning, policy and administrative issues. It meets as needed to review financial, personnel and policy matters. Board membership is an uncompensated position.

The NJTPA is the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for 13 northern New Jersey counties. Under federal legislation, MPOs provide a forum where local officials, public transportation providers and state agency representatives can come together and cooperatively plan to meet the region's current and future transportation needs. It establishes the region's eligibility to receive federal tax dollars for transportation projects.

The NJTPA Board consists of one local elected official from each of the 13 counties in the region (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren), and the cities of Newark and Jersey City. The Board also includes a Governor's Representative, the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the Executive Director of NJ TRANSIT, the Chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and a Citizen's Representative appointed by the Governor.