NYC DOT Commissioner Iris Weinshall Resigns

Commissioner Iris Weinshall is leaving New York City’s Department of Transportation for a job as Vice Chancellor for Facilities Planning, Construction and Management at the City University of New York. The Department of Transportation press office says that Weinshall will stay on for another ten weeks. Her last day on the job will be Friday, April 13. Here are press releases from Weinshall and Mayor Michael Bloomberg:

Press release from DOT:

“It has been an honor and a privilege to spend more than 2 decades serving the city of New York. During the last seven years we have taken great strides towards making our streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, rehabilitating our historic and iconic bridges, bringing our famed Staten Island Ferry into the 21st century and balancing the many demands on the public space we all share.

I would like to thank the 4,500 men and women who work tirelessly to keep this city moving, and I would like to thank my friend and mentor Mayor Michael Bloomberg for his innovative spirit and unwavering support. I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead and to continuing to serve the city and the people of New York in my new role at CUNY.”

Press release from City Hall:

“When I became Mayor, the people of New York were already very fortunate to have an innovative thinker like Iris Weinshall leading the Department of Transportation, and I was fortunate that she agreed to stay on and serve for what has now been an extraordinary seven year tenure. Iris tried new ways to solve problems that had plagued New York City for decades, and she worked with local communities to mitigate dangerous conditions, resulting in the lowest pedestrian fatality rate in recorded history and infrastructure changes and improvements in all five boroughs.

“Iris is a tested leader and our loss is CUNY’s gain. Whether through the challenges the City faced during and after September 11th, two blackouts or a transit strike that threatened to paralyze us, Iris Weinshall brought her leadership skills to bear and saw the Department through these difficult times. New York is a better place for her efforts.

“Iris always embraced the idea of planning now for the future, overseeing a $5 billion capital plan. As a result, the City has two new ferry terminals and three new ferry boats, vastly improved and safer bridges and tunnels, and improvements in traffic flow including the innovative Thru Streets program that have yielded less congestion. She has also led the City to take additional steps to better protect cyclists and pedestrians. Iris oversaw a revamping of technology at the Department, increasing its efficiency and effectiveness. She fought in Albany to win legislative approval to have more red light cameras installed on City streets and was a key member of planning and coordinating for some of New York City’s premiere signature events, including the Thanksgiving Day Parade and the New York Marathon.

“As Iris undertakes her new challenges as Vice Chancellor for Facilities Planning, Construction and Management at CUNY, I know she will continue to serve the people of this City and the students of CUNY with the same vigor, determination and most importantly, innovative leadership that she brought to the Department of Transportation. On behalf of all New Yorkers, I thank Iris for her dedication and professionalism, and I am personally appreciative of her friendship over the years and have enjoyed our warm relationship. I wish her well in her new position.”