U.S. DOT's Advisory Committee on Transportation Equity names members

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced the appointment of 24 members to the new Advisory Committee on Transportation Equity.

Appointees to the advisory committee are drawn from academia, the private sector, and the transportation industry. They include experts in community engagement, transportation planning, design, research, policy, advocacy, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). The group will hold its first meeting in the fall.

"We are grateful to the distinguished members of the ACTE, and I look forward to working with them as we continue our efforts to bring better infrastructure — and the jobs and opportunities that come with it — to every community across the country,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said.  

The objective of the committee is to provide advice and recommendations to Buttigieg on comprehensive, interdisciplinary issues related to transportation equity from a variety of stakeholders involved in transportation planning, design, research, policy, and advocacy in pursuit of the department’s equity goals. 

Specifically, the committee will advise the department on its strategies centered around four equity objectives: 

• Expanding Access – increasing social and economic opportunity for historically overburdened and underserved communities by providing affordable, multi-modal transportation options and the development of a transportation cost burden measure. 

• Power of Community – ensuring that individuals and communities have a greater voice in transportation decisions that affect them. 

• Interventions – committing to ensure that historically overburdened and underserved communities benefit from access to a generational investment in the nation’s infrastructure through direct, hands-on technical support for transportation projects with local impact. 

• Wealth Creation – building capital, expanding business networks, and attaining new skills and experience for small and disadvantaged businesses through increased USDOT contracting opportunities. 

The DOT received and reviewed more than 240 applications for membership to the committee. The newly appointed members — who will each serve two-year terms —include:  

• Anthony Foxx, Professor of Practice, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University (Chair) 
• Stephanie Gidigbi-Jenkins, Partner, North Star Strategies; Vice President, Communities First Infrastructure Alliance (Vice Chair)
• Shoshana Akins, Manager, Public Participation Planning, Delaware Valley Region Planning Commission
• Charles Brown, Founder, Equitable Cities
• Flora Castillo, President, Pivot Strategies
• Clarence Daniel-Angapak, Community Development Division Director, Association of Village Council Presidents
• Veronica Davis, Deputy Director, Houston Public Works; Director, Transportation and Drainage Operations, City of Houston
• Destiny (Thomas) Deguzman, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Thrivance Group 
• Yochai Eisenberg, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois-Chicago
• Icema Gibbs, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and DEI, JetBlue
• Priya Sarathy Jones, Deputy Executive Director, Fines and Fees Justice Center
• Vince Malone, Chief of Staff and Administration, WeGo Public Transit/Nashville MTA
• Andrea Marpillero-Colomina, Sustainable Communities Program Director, GreenLatinos
• Diana Mendes, Corporate President for Infrastructure and Mobility Equity, HNTB
• Roger Millar, Secretary, Washington State Department of Transportation
• Prashanthi Raman, Vice President, Global Government Affairs, Cruise
• Azikiwe Rich, Executive Director of Performance Management, NYC Department of Transportation
• Oliver Sellers-Garcia, Green New Deal Director and Senior Advisor to Mayor Michelle Wu, City of Boston
• Tunya Smith, Director, Office of Civil Rights, North Carolina Department of Transportation
• Camille C. Williams, Director, Social Responsibility, Transportation Diversity Council
• Phil Washington, Chief Executive Officer, Denver International Airport
• Eboni Wimbush, President and Chief Executive Officer, Airport Minority Advisory Council
• Gregory Winfree, Agency Director, Texas A&M University Transportation Institute
• Jing Zhang, Transportation Planner, Morgantown Monongalia Metropolitan Planning Organization

To stay informed about the USDOT’s equity activities by signing up for the USDOT Equity Newsletter.