Polly Trottenberg Tapped for Senior U.S. DOT Spot
It’s a happy Friday for transportation wonks: the White House has nominated Polly Trottenberg, executive director of Building America’s Future, as assistant secretary for policy at the federal DOT.
Polly Trottenberg, tapped as assistant DOT secretary (Photo: NewTalk)Trottenberg’s
ascension signals that the Obama administration will make transit a
serious priority and encourage a more equitable consideration of urban
priorities during debate on the upcoming federal transportation bill.
Her dozen years of Senate experience, including stints in the offices
of Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA), also will prove a
valuable asset to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, himself a
veteran of the House.
But it’s Trottenberg’s independent
analysis of the recent economic stimulus bill that stands out. She
joined New York City DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan and former New
York State DOT Commissioner Astrid Glynn for a series of progressive recommendations for the stimulus plan — some of which, such as the "fix-it-first" requirement for roads and bridges, were left out of the final legislation.
And in a panel discussion
at NewTalk, Trottenberg acknowledged that the stimulus bill’s speedy
delivery of cash to state DOTs was at odds with the Obama
administration’s goal of promoting "green energy":
