COVID-19 claims New Jersey Transit’s Ray Kenny

New Jersey Transit Senior Vice President and General Manager Rail Operations Ray Kenny died due to complications from COVID-19.

New Jersey Transit Senior Vice President and General Manager Rail Operations Raymond P. Kenny, 69, has died of COVID-19.

Kenny, who began his transportation career in 1970 as an MTA Long Island Rail Road ticket clerk and retired from LIRR in 2014, had 50 years of railroad industry experience and an extensive background in managing large teams in transportation operations and capital improvements. In 1975, he entered railroad dispatching for LIRR before rising through the ranks with positions in personnel training and capital construction, prior to leading the Transportation department. From 2006 to 2007, he served as Acting LIRR President. Kenny joined NJT in January 2019.

From 2014 to 2018, Kenny served with WSP USA as a consultant for operations and planning for agencies across the U.S. His work involved helping improve MTA Metro-North Railroad’s business processes, including train crew availability; assisting Metrolink in Los Angeles with emergency management plans; subject matter expertise on the NEC Future project, a comprehensive planning effort to define, evaluate and prioritize future investments in the Northeast Corridor; and subject matter expertise for the Gateway Project in the design of a new Penn Station New York and staging of train operations to facilitate construction. Kenny was also assigned to the Hartford, Conn., rail project as a commissioning agent, ensuring project schedule compliance on the start of a new rail line.

“Ray’s reputation and experience in the industry are unparalleled,” said NJT President and CEO Kevin Corbett. “The leadership and incredible wealth of railroad knowledge Ray brought with him has truly made a positive impact on our organization. On behalf of everyone at NJ Transit, our thoughts and prayers are with Ray’s family and friends at this difficult time.”

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