Peter M. Rogoff: Administrator
Peter M. Rogoff was nominated to serve as Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration in the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on April 29, 2009 by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate on May 21, 2009.
Since his arrival at FTA, Rogoff has presided over the disbursement of $8.4 billion that the Obama Administration made available for transit systems across the United States through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), successfully meeting every milestone established by the Act for getting the money into the hands of transit operators whose budgets had been severely strained by the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. The funds, which represent an historic 80 percent annual funding boost for transit, are being used to protect and expand transportation options across the country while creating and maintaining thousands of jobs.
Federal funding boost for transit, are being used to protect and expand transportation options across the country while creating and maintaining thousands of jobs. He has also overseen over $1 billion in competitively awarded funds to meet other key Administration objectives, such as helping transit agencies restore bus systems to a state of good repair, putting thousands of new buses and bus facilities on community streets, and expanding transit in national parks and on tribal lands.
Administrator Rogoff has also been a tireless advocate for rail transit safety reform, playing an integral role in the introduction of the Obama Administration’s Public Transportation Safety Program Act, legislation that would create enforceable federal safety standards for rail transit systems in the nation. The proposed legislation has the distinction of being the first bill ever transmitted to Congress by any Administration that solely addresses public transportation.
Prior to his FTA appointment, Rogoff served for 22 years on the staff of the Senate Appropriations Committee, including 14 years as the Democratic Staff Director of the Transportation Subcommittee. He is an acknowledged expert in the area of federal infrastructure budgeting and finance, having had an active role in the financing of each of the last three comprehensive surface transportation reauthorization bills dating back to the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991.
Administrator Rogoff was instrumental in the establishment of new user fee regimes to finance expanded security measures following the tragedy of September 11, 2001. He has had an instrumental role in advising policy makers on the operating and capital needs of Amtrak, including the initiation and financing of high-speed Acela service, as well as the financing of dozens of new transit rail and bus rapid transit systems across the United States. He has been active in overseeing and reforming procurements in the FAA, Coast Guard, FTA, and FHWA. He was the principal staff strategist for both the .08 blood alcohol content law and the youth drunk driving "zero tolerance" law.
Together, these laws are credited with saving tens of thousands of lives. Administrator Rogoff has also been centrally involved in efforts to strengthen safety inspections of substandard trucks, cargo vessels, and pipelines.
Mr. Rogoff was the first recipient of the 2010 Rosa Parks Transportation Equity Award, the U.S. Coast Guard Distinguished Public Service Award, and the Lester P. Lamm Memorial Award for outstanding leadership and dedication to U.S. highway transportation programs. He earned his M.B.A. with honors at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University and his B.A. degree in American Studies at Amherst College. He is married, the father of two children, and is a daily transit rider.
