Veronica Vanterpool has been appointed to be deputy administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Vanterpool has served as senior advisor in the FTA Office of the Administrator since August 2021. She and FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez are the first Latinas to serve in their roles.
Vanterpool coordinated and provided executive direction on FTA’s work concerning climate change, equity, innovation, safety and workforce development. FTA explains she provided oversight and guidance for the development of FTA’s first Strategic Plan published in more than 20 years; led FTA’s first-ever listening session series on Transit Oriented Development and serves as the agency’s representative on groups such as the White House Interagency Policy Council Puerto Rico Working Group and the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation.
“It is an honor to serve the transit-riding public in this leadership role alongside Administrator Fernandez and in partnership with the committed, talented team at FTA,” Vanterpool said. “I am excited to channel my commitment to improving transit through FTA’s vision and guidance.”
Vanterpool joined the FTA from Delaware Transit Corporation where she served as its first chief innovation officer where she helped launch the state’s first on-demand microtransit service, DART Connect.
She is the former deputy director of the national Vision Zero Network and executive director of the New York City-based Tri-State Transportation Campaign. Vanterpool also served on the board of New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority by nomination of former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. She served on five MTA Board committees and chaired the board’s paratransit working group.
“Throughout her career, Veronica has been a stalwart advocate for public transportation and the riders who most depend on buses and rail for their economic livelihoods,” FTA Administrator Fernandez said. “As deputy administrator I know she will continue to pursue new initiatives and advance existing priorities at the FTA during this era of unprecedented funding made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This is an exciting and critical time for our industry.”
