Peter M. Rogoff: Administrator
Peter M. Rogoff was confirmed as the Federal Transit Administrator by the U.S. Senate in May, 2009. Administrator Rogoff has lead the agency through a period of historic change, record-setting accomplishments, and agency-wide process improvements to meet the American public’s growing need for public transportation services.
Most recently, Administrator Rogoff has ensured that FTA is playing an active and effective role in the response, recovery and restoration of transit agencies affected by the worst transit disaster in U.S. history as a result of Hurricane Sandy, especially in the metro New York and New Jersey region.
He has also presided over the transition from SAFETEA-LU to a new, two-year surface transportation authorization, known as MAP-21. The new law reflects many of FTA’s and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s highest policy priorities to strengthen public transportation nationwide. In particular, Administrator Rogoff was instrumental in helping the Obama Administration develop and transmit new safety legislation to Congress which is now part of MAP-21, granting FTA new authority for the first time in over 40 years to establish and enforce minimum transit safety standards on all federally funded rail transit systems.
Administrator Rogoff has also led a successful effort to streamline the FTA’s processes, including the New Starts program—the agency’s major capital public transportation program for expanding transit systems. And he initiated important revisions and clarifications to FTA’s policies for ensuring that all funding recipients comply fully with federal civil rights laws and that the impacts of proposed transit construction projects on low-income and minority communities are taken fully into account.
Under Administrator Rogoff’s leadership, the agency has made significant investments in several public transit projects of regional and national significance. In Fiscal Years 2011 and 2012 alone, FTA signed more capital construction agreements for transit projects than in any two-year period in the agency’s history. He has used his position on the Transportation Secretary's Credit Council to advance transit participation in DOT credit assistance programs, including the TIFIA program, which aids in making funds available for major capital transit projects. Early in his tenure at FTA, the Administrator successfully managed the disbursement of $8.4 billion in Recovery Act funds to assist transit operators adversely affected by the economic recession.
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.
