Biden to nominate Buttigieg as transportation secretary

President-elect Joe Biden announced yesterday that he would nominate Pete Buttigieg to serve as the 19th U.S. secretary of transportation.

The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, Buttigieg, 38, was picked to lead the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) because the position "stands at the nexus of so many of the interlocking challenges and opportunities ahead of us," Biden said in a statement.

Buttigieg served as South Bend's mayor for eight years. He revitalized a city that had been struggling for decades after the Studebaker auto company collapsed, and was once called one of America's "dying cities," Biden officials said in a press release. His "Smart Streets" initiative helped change the fortunes of downtown South Bend, revitalize the city, redesigning the streets and bringing in major economic investment.

"Jobs, infrastructure, equity and climate all come together at the USDOT, the site of some of the our most ambitious plans to build back better," the president-elect said. "I trust Mayor Pete to lead this work with focus, decency and a bold vision — he will bring people together to get big things done."

Buttigieg would be the first openly gay member of a U.S. presidential cabinet. He is a "barrier-breaking public servant ... with a record of trailblazing, forward-thinking executive leadership," Biden officials said.

Buttigieg said on Twitter that he would be honored to serve in the role.

"This is a moment of tremendous opportunity — to create jobs, meet the climate challenge, and enhance equity for all," he tweeted.

Buttigieg's nomination drew praise from several transportation leaders and organizations. Following are quotes from some of them:
• "Former Mayor Buttigieg's forward-looking approach supported by data-driven decision-making will serve him well as the next secretary of transportation. On behalf of the AAR and the nation's rail industry, we look forward to working with Mr. Buttigieg to modernize the nation's surface transportation." — Association of American Railroads (AAR) President and Chief Executive Officer Ian Jefferies

• "President-elect Biden knows that rail investments will support economic recovery, expanded mobility and carbon emissions reduction and we are looking forward to working with Mayor Buttigieg and the new administration to advance these essential goals." — Amtrak Chairman Tony Coscia

• "[Buttigieg's] background as mayor, his military service and his experience as a presidential candidate have well-prepared him to understand the importance of freight transportation services and infrastructure. His reputation as a practical problem solver with a vision for the future is a great match for our industry." — American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association President Chuck Baker

• "As mayor of South Bend, [Buttigieg] worked closely with the South Bend Transportation Corporation ... and understands the power of public transportation in meeting the social and economic needs of communities. His tenure as mayor saw an emphasis on a complete streets approach and green transportation initiatives and, as a 2020 presidential candidate, Buttigieg outlined an infrastructure plan centered on a 'Vision Zero' policy and the need to address the immense public transit state-of-good-repair backlog facing the nation." — American Public Transportation Association

• "Mayors know what it means to be on the hook to deliver. And they know that mobility is elemental to the quality of life of our citizens, especially those who depend on local government to provide that mobility. As a presidential candidate, Mayor Buttigieg spotlighted the importance of transit to fueling America's success." — Peter Rogoff, chief executive officer of Sound Transit and former administrator of the Federal Transit Administration

• "As secretary of transportation, Pete Buttigieg will play a key role in ensuring transportation workers have the resources they need to be safe at work and rebuild our country and economy once the pandemic is behind us." — Greg Regan, secretary-treasurer of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO

• "[Buttigieg] will play a critical role in designing an infrastructure package to reinvigorate America's economy that has been ravaged by the coronavirus." — Ray LaHood, co-chair of Building America's Future and former U.S. transportation secretary

•  "AASHTO's membership ... are appreciative of the secretary-designee's call for robust investment in our multimodal transportation system and his commitment to improving transportation safety." — American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials