Gov. Kathy Hochul has tapped one of her top aides to oversee much of the state's transportation infrastructure, including airports, bridges and tunnels.

Kathryn Garcia, the director of state operations, has been named the next executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the governor announced in a news release Tuesday. Garcia, who in her current role oversees more than 70 state agencies, including the Port Authority, will succeed Rick Cotton, who announced last month plans to retire in January.

Garcia previously served New York City as chief operating officer of the Department of Environmental Protection and as sanitation commissioner. Next year, she will take the reins of the ongoing $19 billion reimagining of Kennedy Airport, which is expected to include the op

See Full Page