The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has announced that PATH Director and General Manager Clarelle DeGraffe will retire at the end of 2026 after more than 37 years with the agency, the last seven leading the PATH rail transit system.
James Sincaglia, a long-time NJ Transit executive, has been appointed as her successor, joined by Matthew Reddell, formerly of Bay Area Rapid Transit in northern California, as deputy director for infrastructure maintenance and rolling stock delivery.
Both join Zandra Ford, appointed deputy director for operations in June 2026, completing PATH’s new senior leadership team. DeGraffe will assist in the leadership transition until her retirement.
DeGraffe’s tenure as PATH director from March 2019 was marked by transformative achievements.
She oversaw the PATH Improvement Plan in 2019 and the PATH Forward programme concluded in March 2026, directed the US$ 2 billion reconstruction of PATH stations, tunnels and equipment devastated by Superstorm Sandy, led the system through the coronavirus pandemic, implemented the tap-to-pay TAPP fare system, oversaw major infrastructure works at Hoboken station and enabled the Every Line Every Day service expansion in spring 2025.
Under her leadership in 2022, PATH received the American Public Transportation Association’s Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award for railroads with more than 20 million annual riders.
Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole credited DeGraffe for her leadership and mentorship of female staff throughout the agency, noting that PATH has emerged from multiple challenges as a stronger and improved system.
DeGraffe described the past seven years as the highlight of her Port Authority career, expressing confidence that the railroad’s leadership is in capable hands as she departs.
