We have word from a reliable source that the new SFMTA Sustainable Streets Director will be Tom Maguire, a highly regarded executive at the New York City Department of Transportation, where he served throughout the tenure of Janette Sadik-Khan, most recently as assistant commissioner of project development.
At NYC DOT, Maguire oversaw a broad range of public space, transit, and parking management projects. Among the initiatives under his watch was NYC DOT's Select Bus Service program, which involves upgrades to surface transit similar to the Muni Transit Effectiveness Project. He also led research and communications related to NYC's new public plazas and other street redesigns, and was instrumental in developing a sophisticated congestion pricing system that, while never implemented due to political cowardice in the state capital, was fully fleshed out and ready to roll in America's largest city.
As we wrote in March, the next Sustainable Streets Director will play a critical role in delivering effective pedestrian safety improvements, a robust network of protected bike lanes, and faster and more reliable Muni service. The Sustainable Streets Division encompasses all of the agency's street design and parking management work, and its leader will have to stand up to the vocal minority who fight tooth and nail to preserve the status quo on the streets. Maguire brings seven years of experience working for Sadik-Khan and former mayor Michael Bloomberg, who made NYC DOT a nationally-renowned leader in that department.
SFMTA spokesperson Paul Rose said he couldn't comment on whether Maguire was indeed the selected candidate, but that an announcement would be made this week.
Update: The SFMTA officially announced Maguire's hire and said he will start October 14.
