Polly Trottenberg will step down from her post as New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) commissioner in early December after serving in Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration for nearly seven years.
Trottenberg was appointed as NYC DOT commissioner in January 2014 where she led more than 5,500 employees and oversaw a $17.4-billion 10-year capital plan. She is credited as being an advocate for street safety and accessibility.
“We all owe Polly Trottenberg a debt of gratitude for her incredible service to New York City,” said Mayor de Blasio. “She is a tireless and talented public servant who has made our city safer, fairer and more accessible. I’m proud to have worked so closely with her and I wish her all the best in whatever comes next.”
What comes next for Trottenberg has not been made public. She has more than 25 years of public service under her belt and served as Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy in the Obama Administration at the U.S. Department of Transportation. NYC DOT also notes she has worked under U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) and former U.S. Sens. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA). Earlier this month, she was named as a member of the Biden-Harris Transportation Agency Review Team on a volunteer basis.
Trottenberg accomplished a lot during her tenure with the city in which she led what is referred to as “unprecedented efforts” to open the city’s streets to more sustainable modes such as cycling and buses and focused on underserved communities.
Mayor de Blasio credits Trottenberg with supporting the city’s COVID-19 response and leading the DOT’s efforts. The city’s on-street protected bike lane network has expanded from 36 miles to more than 120 miles. These bike lanes create a key commuting connection to traditionally underserved communities.
Trottenberg served for five years as a Mayoral appointee on the board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), where she served as a voice for New York’s subway and bus riders and advocated for greater system accessibility. As part of its Better Buses plan, the de Blasio Administration worked closely with MTA New York City Transit, committing to expanded access to buses, including an additional 64 more miles of dedicated bus lanes around the City since 2014, for a total of nearly 138 miles. The 14th Street Busway, begun in 2019 and made permanent this year, has received international attention for increasing ridership and decreasing travel times.
Trottenberg led Mayor de Blasio’s Vision Zero initiative focused on reducing traffic fatalities with six of the city’s seven safest years occurring since 2014 (records began in 1910).
NYC DOT has embraced technology and micromobility with Trottenberg at the helm, such as the piloting of electric-powered cargo bike delivery on city streets; dockless bike share pilots in neighborhoods outside of Citi Bike’s service area, including on Staten Island; beginning the first-ever on-street car share, which allowed spaces on streets and in municipal lots; electric scooter share and a new connected vehicle pilot that will enhance safety by using technology to avert crashes.
“I will always be grateful to Mayor de Blasio for the incredible opportunity to serve the city I love so much and especially for the chance to lead the 5,800 dedicated public servants at DOT,” said Trottenberg. “I have been honored to work with them and see the passion, creativity and dedication they bring every day to serving New Yorkers, especially during the pandemic of the last eight months. For now, I just say thank you, one and all.”
On the news of Trottenberg’s resignation, the Riders Alliance, an advocacy group of New York City area transit supporters and users issued a statement:
"New Yorkers owe Polly Trottenberg a sincere debt of gratitude. During her tenure, the Department of Transportation rolled out more bus lanes, traffic safety cameras and other improvements citywide, often despite rabid NIMBYism* and unfair resistance.
"While representing New York City on the MTA board, Commissioner Trottenberg was also a rare authoritative, independent voice for millions of public transit riders. New York is a safer and fairer city today thanks to her sustained efforts.
"Now, entering his final year in office, Mayor de Blasio must cement a progressive legacy founded significantly on equity and safety on our streets. He should double the number of bus lanes rolled out this year, putting essential workers and transit-dependent New Yorkers first and giving private cars the back seat in public space."
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*NIMBY is an acronym for “not in my back yard”
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
