Management

Nuria Fernandez confirmed as administrator of FTA

June 16, 2021

Administrator Fernandez becomes the 15th Senate-confirmed administrator – the first in 12 years – and the first woman of color to be confirmed to lead FTA.

Mischa Wanek-Libman

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.”

About the Author

Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director

Mischa Wanek-Libman serves as editor in chief of Mass Transit magazine and group editorial director of the Infrastructure and Aviation Group at Endeavor Business Media. She is responsible for developing and maintaining the editorial direction of the group and is based in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Wanek-Libman has spent more than 20 years covering transportation issues including construction projects and engineering challenges for various commuter railroads and transit agencies. 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 serves as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.

She is a graduate of Drake University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a major in magazine journalism and a minor in business management.