Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins will continue leading the national body that shapes federal transit and rail policy after the National Association of Counties reappointed him chair of its Transit/Rail Subcommittee.
The appointment, according to a county press release published in the Yonkers Times on Aug. 5, keeps Jenkins at the helm of a panel that influences federal legislation, funding and regulation affecting county governments across the country. NACo represents 3,069 counties, parishes and boroughs nationwide, and its Transportation Steering Committee covers everything from highway finance to passenger railroads.
For Bronxville, Scarsdale and Eastchester residents who ride Metro-North daily, federal rail funding decisions flow through the policy framework the subcommittee helps shape. Westchester County maintains a dedicated MTA budget line in its 2026 adopted operating budget, reflecting the county's significant financial stake in regional transit.
"In Westchester, we know investing in reliable, accessible and modern transportation strengthens our workforce, supports local businesses and connects our residents to the services they depend on," Jenkins said in a statement.
The reappointment was made at the 2026 NACo Annual Conference, held July 17–20 in New Orleans. The official Westchester County Government account posted the news on X on July 30, with the full press release following Aug. 5.
What the subcommittee covers
The Transit/Rail Subcommittee falls under NACo's broader Transportation Steering Committee, which focuses on highway and bridge development, public transit, airport service, passenger and freight railroads, ports and waterways, and research into new transportation modes. Jenkins's specific domain is transit and rail infrastructure policy at the federal level.
Bee-Line hearing ahead
Separately, Westchester County is hosting a public hearing on proposed Bee-Line student fare adjustments on Thursday, Aug. 13, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at 148 Martine Ave., Fifth Floor, Conference Room 527, in White Plains. Virtual attendance is also available. The county's Bee-Line system projects roughly 25.1 million passenger trips in 2026, and the proposed change would be the first student fare adjustment since 2015.
No next meeting date for the NACo subcommittee has been announced. Residents who want to weigh in on county transit policy can attend the Aug. 13 Bee-Line hearing or contact the county executive's office in White Plains.
