The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Nuria Fernandez to be the administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on June 10. The FTA’s last Senate-confirmed FTA Administrator was Peter Rogoff, who was confirmed in May 2009, more than 12 years ago.
Administrator Fernandez becomes the 15th Senate-confirmed administrator and the first woman of color to be confirmed to lead the FTA.
“Administrator Fernandez’s historic confirmation by the U.S. Senate means that we will have excellent leadership in this key part of building a cleaner and more equitable transportation future for Americans,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Over her 35-year career, Nuria has steadfastly served communities across the nation that rely on transit and worked to ensure the safety of the workers who operate these essential services.”
While the confirmation is historically significant, leading the FTA is a familiar role for Administrator Fernandez, who served as acting administrator of the FTA during the Clinton Administration.
She was named by the Biden Administration as deputy secretary of the FTA, which allowed her to assume a position within the administration immediately without Senate confirmation. President Joe Biden sent Fernandez’s nomination as FTA Administrator to the Senate on April 12, 2021, kicking off the formal confirmation process.
“I am humbled and extremely grateful for the confidence bestowed upon me by the U.S. Senate, the Biden-Harris Administration and Secretary Buttigieg,” said FTA Administrator Fernandez. “I am committed to supporting our nation’s public transportation systems and the millions of Americans who depend on the transit services they provide. As we emerge from this pandemic, we have a once in a generation opportunity to build a more sustainable and equitable public transportation future, and I intend to do that in my role as FTA Administrator.”
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.
