The Biden Administration recently nominated Shailen P. Bhatt, a senior vice president at AECOM, to lead the Federal Highway Administration.
Bhatt reportedly served for less than one year as a vice president in the Global Transportation Innovation and Alternative Delivery wing at AECOM, a multinational infrastructure consulting firm. Before taking a position at AECOM, Bhatt served as CEO of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America based in Washington, D.C., executive director for the Colorado Department of Transportation, and Cabinet Secretary at the Delaware Department of Transportation. The career bureaucrat recently garnered high praise from transportation insiders as his nomination heads to the U.S. Senate for review.
“Shailen Bhatt has been a tireless transportation advocate for decades, especially in the areas of safety and technology, and he makes an excellent choice by the Biden administration to lead FHWA,” Jim Tymon, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, reportedly said. “His leadership roles at both the Delaware and Colorado departments of Transportation, as well as his time at the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Intelligent Transportation Society of America, and AECOM demonstrate his ability to bring people together to ensure we have a safe, sustainable, equitable and multi-modal transportation system that enables mobility for everyone.”
The Federal Highway Administration hasn’t had an administrator since Nicole R. Nason left in January 2021. If confirmed, Bhatt would be tasked with overseeing the Federal-aid Highway Program and Federal Lands Highway Program. Although its $52 billion budget is largely funded by the federal gas tax, elements of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure spending package are likely to come into play. But not every lawmaker is ready to rubber-stamp his nomination.
Concerns have surfaced that the U.S. Department of Transportation plans to overstep its authority concerning local and state diesel truck emissions. Bhatt, who has ties to former Pres. Obama, indicated he is “a pioneer in transportation technology, innovative finance (P3), and reducing the carbon footprint of the transportation sector.” Those words have triggered lawmakers.
“It’s no secret that I have raised several concerns with FHWA regarding policies like the greenhouse gas performance measure and their (December highway funding) memo, that contradict those negotiated and agreed to in the (infrastructure package) — all of which I will be discussing with Mr. Bhatt when we meet,” Sen. Shelley Capito reportedly said. “As always, I will judge this nominee like any other— based upon a holistic look at his professional record, writings, and answers to my questions.”
Sources:
https://www.ttnews.com/articles/stakeholders-praise-bhatts-nomination-lead-fhwa
https://www.thetrucker.com/trucking-news/the-nation/biden-announces-nominee-to-head-fhwa
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shailen-bhatt-6a673139/
https://www.enr.com/articles/54482-biden-picks-shailen-bhatt-for-top-fhwa-post
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