Skip to main content

Mixed welcome for Trump’s nomination for US Transportation Secretary

The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) has welcomed Donald Trump’s nomination of Elaine Chao for Transportation Secretary. "This is a step in the right direction as former labour secretary Chao previously served in key leadership positions at the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) and in the private sector. She realises the challenges facing the transportation system and how it affects individual businesses and communities and the nation as a whole," said Jeffrey F. Paniati, ITE executive
December 5, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
The 5667 Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) has welcomed Donald Trump’s nomination of Elaine Chao for Transportation Secretary.

"This is a step in the right direction as former labour secretary Chao previously served in key leadership positions at the 324 US Department of Transportation (USDOT) and in the private sector. She realises the challenges facing the transportation system and how it affects individual businesses and communities and the nation as a whole," said Jeffrey F. Paniati, ITE executive director and CEO. "ITE looks forward to continuing our work with USDOT to help serve all users of the transportation system."

However, the Insurance Journal claimed that her record as secretary of labour suggested she might have a light hand when it comes to safety regulation as head of the Transportation Department and would seek to shift responsibility from the federal government to states where possible. It claimed her record suggests she would be sceptical of new safety regulations and may attempt to roll back existing regulations.

Announcing her nomination, Trump said, “Secretary Chao’s extensive record of strong leadership and her expertise are invaluable assets in our mission to rebuild our infrastructure in a fiscally responsible manner.”

“The President-elect has outlined a clear vision to transform our country’s infrastructure, accelerate economic growth and productivity, and create good paying jobs across the country,” Chao said in a statement released with Trump’s announcement.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Managing congestion, better information changes perceptions
    January 31, 2012
    Kapsch's Dietrich Leihs talks about the true fundamentals of urban pricing. In some Italian and German towns and cities, the solution to congestion is an outright ban on certain types of vehicles. As far as Dietrich Leihs is concerned, any attempt to sweeten the pill that is congestion charging is only ever going to be a partial success at best.
  • USDoT pledges $15m to two university transport centres
    June 13, 2019
    The US Department of Transportation (USDoT) is to pledge $15 million to two University Transportation Centres (UTC) to advance research and education programmes that address transportation challenges. Elaine Chao, US transportation secretary, says: “These investments in transportation research will help address our country’s congestion and durability challenges.” The University of South Florida will focus on congestion relief while Washington State University will focus on improving the durability of tra
  • Align transport infrastructure needs with ITS offerings
    July 19, 2012
    Kallistratos Dionelis, General Secretary of ASECAP, ponders the absence of creativity and innovation in the road management sector. 'Traditional' road managers and ITS specialists share many of the same ultimate goals and yet, he says, a common understanding of what technology can achieve is still conspicuously absent.
  • Align transport infrastructure needs with ITS offerings
    July 19, 2012
    Kallistratos Dionelis, General Secretary of ASECAP, ponders the absence of creativity and innovation in the road management sector. 'Traditional' road managers and ITS specialists share many of the same ultimate goals and yet, he says, a common understanding of what technology can achieve is still conspicuously absent.