PATERSON, N.J. — The Passaic County Board of County Commissioners honored Commissioner John W. Bartlett, marking his retirement after 13½ years of dedicated service to the residents of Passaic County. During his tenure, Commissioner Bartlett helped bring more than $600 million in federal infrastructure funding into the county, a transformative investment that touched every corner of Passaic County's 16 municipalities.
First elected to the Board in 2012, Commissioner Bartlett served as the county's long-standing representative to the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), rising to serve as Board Chairman from 2022 to 2023 and most recently as Secretary. Through that role and his relentless advocacy at the regional and national levels, federal dollars flowed into Passaic County for road improvements on Routes 46, 3, 23, and 80; pedestrian and bicycle safety upgrades; bridge replacements and culvert repairs; and advanced the county's segment of the Morris Canal Greenway, securing more than $1 million in federal grants toward its preservation and expansion.
"John Bartlett has been one of the most consequential public servants in Passaic County's recent history. The roads people drive on, the trails they walk, the bridges they cross, so much of that infrastructure was funded because John showed up, year-after-year and fought for this county at every table he sat at. His departure leaves big shoes to fill, but his legacy is built into the landscape of Passaic County. We wish him every success at Gateway and knowing John, he'll deliver there too,” said Commissioner Director Sandi Lazzara.
Among the landmark investments secured during his time: $8.6 million to improve traffic and pedestrian safety on Lakeview Avenue in Paterson and Clifton; $6.3 million for commercial district roadway improvements in Paterson and Clifton; $3.4 million to develop the Highlands Rail Trail, including $1.5 million to begin construction in Wanaque; and more than $5 million for rural road safety in communities including Bloomingdale, North Haledon and Wayne. In total, Commissioner Bartlett helped guide more than $30 billion in infrastructure investment across northern and central New Jersey through his NJTPA leadership.
Beyond transportation, Commissioner Bartlett's fingerprints are on some of the county's most significant community investments. He championed new STEM and Biotech academies at Passaic County Technical Institute, expanded Passaic County Community College's suburban campuses and helped open the PCTI pool on weekends for autism and Special Olympics swim programs. He led the county's Census 2020 outreach effort, printing materials in five languages (Spanish, Arabic, Bengali, Gujarati, and English) and achieving the county's highest Census reporting rate in 50 years. He also helped steer CARES Act and American Rescue Plan funding to over 4,000 families at risk of eviction and to businesses and nonprofits struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic.
"John Bartlett doesn't just talk, he delivers,” said Commissioner Deputy-Director Orlando Cruz. “Six hundred million dollars in federal funding doesn't come to a county because someone asked nicely. It comes because you know the game, you put in the work and you never stop fighting for your people. John did that for Passaic County, year-after-year. That's the standard he set, and that's the legacy he leaves behind."
Commissioner Bartlett served as Director of the Board in 2019 and 2024, helped balance 12 consecutive county budgets and lowered the county tax rate every year for the last nine years. He departs county government to serve as General Counsel of the Gateway Development Commission, overseeing legal operations for the Gateway Rail Tunnel, one of the largest infrastructure projects in the nation.
“People ask what drives you in public service. For me, the answer has always been simple: this place, Passaic County, and its people. This is a place that has proved, time and again, that when we work together we can make tomorrow better than today,” said Commissioner John Bartlett. “Every federal dollar we secured, every project we greenlit, every crisis we navigated together was an act of faith in this county and the people who call it home. I am deeply grateful for the trust residents placed in me, humbled by what this Board accomplished, and absolutely certain that Passaic County's best days are still ahead."
Media Contact:
Lindsay Reed
Public Information Officer, Passaic County
Lindsayr@passaiccountynj.org
