Two New York transit consultants — one among whom oversaw the launch of town’s “Vision Zero” road security initiative — have emerged as early favorites to change into mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s Division of Transportation commissioner, in line with 4 sources with information of the matter.
The DOT may very well be an particularly essential company for Mamdani, whose marketing campaign guarantees included a vow to make town’s public buses “fast and free.” Amongst different duties, the company is accountable for turning automobile routes into bus corridors to hurry up bus site visitors. Mamdani has pledged to make such conversions a giant precedence for DOT.
DOT Deputy Commissioner Ryan Russo on the Brooklyn Bridge bike path on Monday, August 8, 2016. (Jefferson Siegel/New York Every day Information)
One other title that has been floated as a possible DOT decide for Mamdani, sources stated, is Ben Furnas, the chief director of the Transportation Alternate options advocacy group. Russo and Lopez are seen as having a greater shot at touchdown the job, two sources stated.
Mamdani spokeswoman Dora Pekec declined to debate any potential appointments. “No personnel decisions have been made,” she stated.
Lopez and Russo didn’t return requests for remark. Furnas declined to remark.
Mamdani, who’s being sworn in as mayor Jan. 1, has stated publicly he isn’t ruling out protecting Ydanis Rodriguez, the present DOT commissioner who endorsed his mayoral run late final month. However sources stated Rodriguez, who was appointed by Mayor Adams, is unlikely to get to maintain his job as soon as Mamdani takes workplace, although.
Russo labored on the metropolis DOT for 14 years, beginning below Mayor Michael Bloomberg, earlier than departing in 2017 to change into the primary everlasting head of the Division of Transportation of Oakland, Calif.
Whereas on the NYC DOT, Russo, serving as a prime deputy to then-Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg, oversaw the rollout and implementation of “Vision Zero,” the de Blasio administration initiative geared toward eliminating site visitors deaths by redesigning streets to make them extra bike, pedestrian and bus-friendly.
Russo, who’s at present the chief director of the Nationwide Affiliation of Metropolis Transportation Officers, was for a time particularly centered on non-motorized transit efforts whereas at metropolis DOT, serving because the company’s director of “bicycle and pedestrian programs” between 2006 and 2009. Mamdani, a giant proponent of increasing town’s bike lane networks, has stated he plans to as mayor not less than sometimes commute to Metropolis Corridor on two wheels.
Lopez additionally has metropolis DOT expertise, having served in senior roles on the company all through Mayor Invoice de Blasio’s eight years at Metropolis Corridor. On the time he left the company in November 2021, he was the DOT’s Bronx borough commissioner.
Lopez then served as Gov. Hochul’s prime transportation deputy between November 2021 and June 2024 earlier than taking over his present position because the principal deputy chief program officer for the Gateway Growth Fee, the entity answerable for constructing the brand new rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River connecting New York and New Jersey.
In addition to increasing bus and bicycle networks, Mamdani has his work reduce out for him in relation to transit points as his promise to make buses free would require a gradual stream of recent funding. His marketing campaign has estimated it might price some $800 million yearly.
With a purpose to allocating such funds, Mamdani has proposed growing taxes on millionaires and firms within the metropolis. Such tax hikes would require help from Gov. Hochul, who has been brazenly crucial of any will increase subsequent yr.
Final weekend, Hochul additionally stated she was against the underlying concept of creating buses free for everybody.
“I cannot set forth a plan right now that takes money out of a system that relies on the fares of the buses and the subways,” she advised reporters final weekend. “But can we find a path to make it more affordable for people who need help? Of course we can.”
