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Biden Nominates Polly Trottenberg, Former NYC DOT Head, To Help Run U.S. Transportation Department
By
Stephen Nessen
Published Jan 18, 2021
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Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
By
Stephen Nessen
Published Jan 18, 2021
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Polly Trottenberg, who recently quit as commissioner for the New York City Department of Transportation under Mayor Bill de Blasio, has been nominated Deputy Secretary for the U.S. Department of Transportation under the incoming Biden administration, the President-elect’s transition team announced.
If confirmed by the Senate, she’ll serve second-in-command to Transportation Secretary and former presidential candidate and mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg, pending his confirmation. Trottenberg’s rise to the post will help bolster several city initiatives that will require both federal aid and support.
Trottenberg will be uniquely positioned to assist with the implementation of Congestion Pricing, the MTA’s ongoing financial troubles, the Gateway Project, as well as repair and replacement of the triple-cantilevered portion of the BQE.
A statement on the Biden transition website calls Trottenberg a “nationally recognized transportation leader.”
Before serving seven years as head of New York City’s DOT, Trottenberg was Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy and Under Secretary for Policy at the USDOT during the Obama administration.
Trottenberg joined the Biden transition team in November, as traffic deaths in the city hit their highest number since de Blasio was elected and launched Vision Zero, pledging to reduce traffic deaths to zero by 2024.
Trottenberg is credited with helping push forward major street changes in the city, including reducing the speed limit to 25 miles per hour, getting nearly 1,000 school speed cameras installed, and seeing the city’s first busway installed.
She also represented the city as a member of the MTA board for five years, before abruptly resigning. She never spoke on the record about why she left, but often criticized and questioned MTA projects backed by Governor Andrew Cuomo, such as the Enhanced Station Initiative, and the last-minute L train plan changes.
Listen to WNYC's Stephen Nessen's report on Polly Trottenberg's nomination:
Cuomo and Biden are close allies. During one of his recent State of the State addresses, Cuomo cited Biden’s insult that LaGuardia Airport was like “a third-world airport” as his motivation for upgrading it.
While 2020 saw the slowdown and delay of bike lane installation and other road changes, because of COVID-19, Trottenberg still managed to oversee radical changes to the way city streets were used in her final year as DOT commissioner, including the installation of outdoor dining and streets closed to traffic for the Open Streets program.
Leaders from New York’s infrastructure world expressed satisfaction over her appointment.
“In the seven years since she was hired to lead NYC DOT, Polly Trottenberg made significant progress in making New York a safer, healthier, and more sustainable city,” Liam Blank, spokesperson for Tri-State Transportation Campaign, wrote in a statement. “Ms. Trottenberg is a true champion for millions of commuters and we congratulate her on her new role as Deputy Secretary of Transportation."
The New York Building Congress, an industries trade group, said it was “thrilled.”
“Having worked alongside her for years, we know the expertise and leadership she brings to this position at a time when infrastructure must be a top priority for our country; especially, as we face the long road to recovery,” Carlo A. Scissura, President & CEO of the New York Building Congress, wrote in a statement. “We look forward to continuing our relationship with her in Washington, D.C. in support of critical projects and initiatives, from congestion pricing to the BQE and finally moving the Gateway Tunnel forward."
Tagged
new york city
wethecommuters
transportation
joe biden
Stephen Nessen
Stephen Nessen covers transportation. Since 2008 he has reported on everything from Occupy Wall Street, the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site, Hurricane Sandy, to Trump’s campaign for president. His transportation reporting has taken him everywhere from the MTA’s secret Rail Control Center to the gleaming subways of Seoul. Got a tip? Email [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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