Daniel R. Benson, New Jersey Assemblyman, Chair of Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee
Snehal Patel, P.E., PMP, NJDOT Assistant Commissioner, Capital Program Management, and a State Transportation Engineer
Assemblyman Dan Benson (D-14 Mercer) first joined the Assembly in 2011 and is currently serving his fourth term. A former member of the Environment, Commerce, and Law and Public Safety Committees, the Assemblyman currently serves as the Chair of the Transportation and Independent Authority Committee and as a member of the Health and Senior Services and Budget Committees. He represents towns in Mercer and Middlesex Counties including Cranbury, East Windsor, Hamilton, Hightstown, Jamesburg, Monroe, Plainsboro, Robbinsville, and Spotswood. Assemblyman Benson has a Bachelor of Science in physics and government from Georgetown University and a Master of Public Policy in science and technology policy from Rutgers University. Professionally, the Assemblyman is an energy and telecommunications policy consultant and resides in Hamilton with his wife Hande and their son Nicholas.
Mr. Patel was appointed to the position of Assistant Commissioner, Capital Program Management (CPM) in April 2018. He will be a key member of the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s senior leadership team and will be charged with managing and delivering an annual Capital Program of $500 plus million in state and federal projects as well as overseeing a work force of up to 1,330 employees in six Divisions within the CPM. In this capacity, he will be responsible for enhancing the framework of project delivery; driving innovation though technology, policies and procedures; and developing talent through mentorship, training and informal succession planning. He will continue to collaborate with multiple internal and external stakeholders such as FHWA, NJAPA, UTCA, ACCNJ, ACEC, and other state and federal agencies. In addition, he will serve as a voting member on the AASHTO Highway subcommittee, and as the State Transportation Engineer of the Department.
Snehal started his professional career with NJDOT in 1987 as an Assistant Engineer in the Roadway Design Squad of Region 1. He has held many supervisory, managerial, and senior executive positions within the Department which showcase his versatility and leadership skills throughout his career. Prior to this appointment, he served as a Director, Division of Construction Services & Materials, and as a Deputy State Transportation Engineer. His accomplishments in that capacity included managing an annual construction program of over $2 Billion which included some of the most complex projects such as the Route 7 Wittpenn Bridge, Pulaski Skyway rehabilitation contracts, Route 35 Restoration, Route 72 Manahawkin Bay Bridge, and Route 295/42/76 Direct Connect contracts while directing a staff of over 500 employees.
Prior to that, Snehal’s professional career path included various managerial and senior executive positions such as Regional Construction Engineer, Program Manager, Project Manager, and Executive Manager in various Divisions of the CPM.
Snehal received a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) degree from S.P. University in India, and a Master of Engineering (Civil) from Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey. He is a registered Professional Engineer in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He is certified as a Project Management Professional, and a Public Manager. In 2017, he was named Government Engineer of the year by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
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