DRBA
COMMISSIONERS
Welcome to the Delaware River and Bay Authority
A bi-state governmental agency created by Compact in 1962 between the States of Delaware and New Jersey, the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) owns and operates the Delaware Memorial Bridge Twin Span, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, and the Forts Ferry Crossing. Since its inception, the DRBA has successfully carried out its primary mission of providing vital transportation links between the States of New Jersey and Delaware.
With the passage of the 1990 Compact Amendments, the Authority is also permitted to participate in economic development activities in Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland, and Cape May counties in New Jersey and the three counties of Delaware. Using these new powers, the bi-state agency initiated the Salem County Business Centre in Carney’s Point Township and has added five airports to its family of transportation facilities – Wilmington-New Castle Airport, Cape May Airport, Millville Airport, the Civil Air Terminal at Dover, and the Delaware Airpark. All DRBA operating revenues are generated through the bridge, ferry, and airport facilities.
NEW JERSEY
The New Jersey delegation includes six commissioners appointed by the Governor of New Jersey to represent the state's interests on the DRBA board. Together with their Delaware counterparts, they oversee the Authority's transportation and economic development initiatives across South Jersey. Meet the current New Jersey commissioners below.
M. Earl Ransome
Chairman
Pedricktown
Heather K. Baldini
Commissioner
Sea Isle City
Debra S. Behnke
Commissioner
Pennsville
Sheila McCann
Commissioner
Upper Deerfield
James P. Mehaffey
Commissioner
West Deptford
Shirley R. Wilson
Commissioner
Seaville
Delaware
The Delaware delegation includes six commissioners appointed by the Governor of Delaware to represent the state's interests on the DRBA board. They work alongside the New Jersey commissioners to guide the Authority's bridge, ferry, and airport operations. Meet the current Delaware commissioners below.
Michael Ratchford
Vice Chairman
New Castle
Crystal Carey, Esq.
Commissioner
Dover
Veronica Faust, Esq.
Commissioner
Lewes
Michael Houghton, Esq.
Commissioner
Millsboro
Li Wen Lin
Commissioner
Dover
Ruth J. Tucker
Commissioner
Middletown
Our Governors
The Delaware River and Bay Authority, is a bi-state government agency created to provide vital transportation links between the states of Delaware and New Jersey.
Matt Meyer
Governor of Delaware
The Delaware River and Bay Authority, is a bi-state government agency created providing vital transportation links between the states of Delaware and New Jersey.
Mikie Sherrill
Governor of New Jersey
The Delaware River and Bay Authority, is a bi-state government agency created providing vital transportation links between the states of Delaware and New Jersey.
Meet the Rest of the DRBA Team
The Commissioners work closely with DRBA's management team to carry out the Authority's day-to-day operations across the bridge, ferry, airport, and park facilities. Visit the DRBA Management page to learn more about the staff leading these efforts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the duties of a DRBA commissioner?
DRBA commissioners oversee the operations, finances, and long-term planning of the Delaware River and Bay Authority’s public infrastructure facilities. They set policy, approve budgets and major contracts, and meet regularly to review the Authority's performance. You can see how these decisions are made public on the Board Meetings and Resolutions page.
How are DRBA commissioners appointed?
Commissioners are not elected. Each commissioner is appointed by the Governor of Delaware or the Governor of New Jersey, since DRBA is a bi-state agency created by compact between the two states. Learn more about how the Authority was formed and how it operates on the About DRBA page.
How many commissioners serve on the DRBA board?
The board has 12 commissioners total, split evenly with 6 representing Delaware and 6 representing New Jersey. The chairman and vice chairman roles alternate between the 2 states. Each state's governor also plays an oversight role, as shown in the Our Governors section above.
How long is a DRBA commissioner's term?
Commissioner terms are set by each state's appointing authority and vary by appointment. Typically, each commissioner serves for 5 years or until a successor is appointed. Continuity on the board helps ensure long-term consistency in managing the bridge, ferry, airport, and park operations that both states depend on.
Where can I find DRBA's board meeting schedule and financial reports?
DRBA publishes its meeting schedule and resolutions on the Board Meetings and Resolutions page, and financial performance is detailed in the Authority's Annual Financial Reports. Both are useful for anyone tracking how commissioner decisions translate into Authority operations.
