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

  • Gearing up for IntelliDrive cooperative traffic management
    February 1, 2012
    Beginning in the first quarter of 2010 it became evident that the IntelliDrivesm programme direction had been reestablished, by the USDOT's ITS Joint Program Office (JPO), after being adrift for a few years. The programme was now moving toward a deployment future and with a much broader stakeholder involvement than it had exhibited previously. By today not only is it evident that the programme was reestablished with a renewed emphasis on deployment, it is also apparent that it is moving along at a faster pa
  • US DoT launches largest-ever road test of connected vehicle crash avoidance technology
    August 22, 2012
    Nearly 3,000 cars, trucks and buses equipped with connected Wi-Fi technology to enable vehicles and infrastructure to ‘talk’ to each other in real time to help avoid crashes and improve traffic flow, began traversing Ann Arbor's streets yesterday as part of a year-long safety pilot project by the US Department of Transportation. Ray LaHood, US Transportation Secretary, joined elected officials and industry and community leaders on the University of Michigan campus to launch the second phase of the Safety Pi
  • Regional, national managed enforcement for developing nations
    February 3, 2012
    Robot is offering nationwide enforcement services to both developed and developing countries.
  • ITS America Leadership circle meets at annual meeting
    April 22, 2013
    Sabrina Sussman, ITS America’s new VP for Membership and Development, has been hired to lead the strategic planning efforts and enactment of the ITS America Leadership Circle, as well as well as manage member recruitment, retention and services.