The board of members of the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (Centro) unanimously appointed Christopher Tuff as Chief Executive Officer to lead the Authority and its subsidiary corporations.
Centro provides bus service across Cayuga, Cortland, Oneida, Onondaga, and Oswego counties.
“When we began our search for a new CEO, the Board of Members promised to find a leader who exemplifies the organization’s values and appreciates the importance of public transportation in a service area like ours,” said Board Chairman Nicholas Laino. “We have someone who has demonstrated his ability to lead this organization with accountability and transparency. Someone who lives the values Centro prioritizes. Someone who is ready to transform Central New York’s transportation landscape through the arrival of Micron and removal of Interstate 81. That leader is Christopher Tuff.”
Tuff was chosen after a nearly 18-month nationwide search conducted by TransPro Consulting, a transportation industry search firm. After an initial candidate pool was gathered, the Authority considered nine candidates from seven states and determined Tuff was the best suited for the position due to his track record, connection with the community, and dedication to public transportation.
Tuff assumes the role of CEO after serving during the past four and a half years as Centro’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer. During that time, he oversaw the successful launch of Centro’s service in Cortland County, the first expansion of services in 20 years.
Tuff began his career at Centro in 2007 in the Authority’s Accounting department. He left the organization for eight years, working as an Auditor for the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Tuff returned to Centro in 2016 and steadily rose through the ranks holding the positions of Vice President of Administration, Director of Operations, and Director of Subsidiary Operations.
“Christopher has what it takes to lead Centro and execute the Authority’s forward-looking policies,” continued Laino. “He gets what makes our drivers come to work every day and why riders choose Centro.”
Tuff obtained his Commercial Divers License (CDL) in 2017 and has operated buses during special events amid the current Bus Operator shortage. Most recently, Tuff drove during the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ concert at the JMA dome. This provides Tuff with a unique perspective of what Centro drivers face in providing safe, quality service and connects him with bus riders. Like other Centro drivers, Tuff attends regular training and safety programs.
Tuff serves on the boards of the Boys and Girls Club of Syracuse and CNY Works. He is the Authority’s representative to the Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council, serving as the vice chairman of their Policy Committee and sitting on the organization’s Executive and Planning Committees.
Tuff is also recognized as a transit leader in New York State and across the country. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the New York Public Transportation Association and serves on several committees for the American Public Transportation Association, including the Bus and Paratransit CEOs committee, the Bus Rapid Transit committee, the Zero-Emission Vehicle committee, and the Mid-Sized Operations committee. In 2022, Mass Transit Magazine named Tuff a Top 40 Under 40 Transit Leader.
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