Senate Confirms FTA Leader Marc Molinaro
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Before leaving town for the August recess, the Senate easily confirmed the nominee to lead the nation’s major transit agency.
Former Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.), once a member of the transportation panel, gained bipartisan backing to lead the Federal Transit Administration during President Donald Trump’s second term. In his role, the newly confirmed administrator will play a central role in implementing Secretary Sean Duffy’s vision for the Department of Transportation.
“I applaud the U.S. Senate for confirming administrator Molinaro earlier today. Marc’s leadership, experience and commitment to ‘Making Transit Safe Again’ will be a strong asset to the department,” Duffy said Aug. 2. “I am confident administrator Molinaro will help usher in the golden age of transit, helping our transit partners maintain safe and clean systems that move American families forward.”
The FTA leader reacted, “I am grateful to President Trump for placing his trust in me, and to Secretary Duffy for his confidence in my leadership.”
“I am committed to supporting our nation’s public transportation systems and ensuring a safer, more accessible and better-connected America,” Molinaro continued.
We welcome our newly confirmed Administrator Marc Molinaro. Learn more here: — Federal Transit Admn (@FTA_DOT)
Per background information FTA provided, the new administrator “brings decades of executive and legislative experience to the challenge of modernizing America’s transit systems and ensuring they are safe, accessible, accountable and responsive to the needs of all Americans.”
Meanwhile, awaiting confirmation votes in the Senate are the nominees for the top roles at the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Derek Barrs, nominated to lead FMCSA’s operations, was approved by a Senate panel last month. Responding to a questionnaire prepared by the Commerce Committee, he detailed his strategy for the trucking regulator: “FMCSA must continue to focus on data-driven enforcement, driver education and improved vehicle technologies to drive down these numbers. Enhancing collaboration with state and local agencies to use real-time data to predict and prevent high-risk behaviors will be crucial to remove the bad actors from our roadways.”
“We must take a hard look at the impacts that passenger vehicles continue to play in commercial motor vehicle-related crashes,” he continued. “We must look for new ways to significantly reduce crashes on our roadways, thinking outside the box and collaborating with all stakeholders.”
Tim Haynes of Penske Transportation Solutions discusses how AI is being applied to fleet management, from predictive maintenance to route optimization.Tune in above or by going to .
Responding to written questions from senators specific to emerging technologies, Barrs emphasized, “During my time in law enforcement, I utilized many different tools in the proverbial tool belt in order to ensure safety is maintained. If confirmed, I am happy to work with Congress to explore opportunities for alignment with the department’s and administration’s priorities to utilize automation to make meaningful improvements to roadway safety.”
The former Florida Highway Patrol chief has been involved with public safety for more than three decades. Key stakeholder groups consider him to be an authority on commercial transportation safety.
Republican Senate leaders have yet to announce a vote on Barrs’ nomination. American Trucking Associations has endorsed the nominee. “This role is vitally important to the 8.5 million Americans who work in trucking-related jobs,” ATA President Chris Spear said July 30. “Derek has the qualifications and expertise that will make him exceptionally well prepared to take on this challenge, and under his leadership, the trucking industry is confident that FMCSA will make significant progress toward achieving our shared priorities of improving highway safety and efficiently delivering the nation’s freight.”
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