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1/19/2021
President-Elect Joe Biden yesterday announced Polly Trottenberg as his pick for deputy U.S. transportation secretary.
Trottenberg has federal, state and city experience in transportation. For seven years, she served as New York City's transportation commissioner until she resigned in December 2020 and joined the Biden transition team.
Prior to her work at the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT), she served in former President Barack Obama's administration as assistant secretary for transportation policy and under secretary for policy at the U.S. Department of Transportation, Biden transition team officials said in a press release.
At NYCDOT, Trottenberg ran a 5,800-person agency that operates the city's roadways, bridges, traffic and parking systems, the Staten Island Ferry, and extensive bicycle, pedestrian and public plaza infrastructure. Recently, she led the department's COVID-19 response and recovery.
If confirmed by the Senate, Trottenberg will become second-in-command to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, pending his Senate confirmation.
Amtrak Chairman Tony Coscia praised Trottenberg's appointment to the Biden administration's transportation department.
"With decades of transportation experience, Ms. Trottenberg understands the importance of investing in transportation to expand mobility, reduce carbon emissions and support economic recovery," Coscia said in a prepared statement. "We look forward to working with President-elect Joe Biden, Transportation Secretary designee Pete Buttigieg and Deputy Secretary Polly Trottenberg to launch a new era of passenger-rail expansion and improvement across the nation, connecting more people by train."