Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
NACTO

NACTO 2012: Leading City DOT Commissioners Talk Transportation Politics

4:19 PM EST on December 17, 2012

"To me, the single most fascinating element of politics is the alchemy by which something becomes an issue," said Chris Hayes, MSNBC host and moderator of the commissioners' panel on the politics of transportation at the October NACTO Designing Cities conference.

The panel, captured in its entirety by Streetfilms, featured NYC DOT's Janette Sadik-Khan, Chicago DOT chief Gabe Klein, San Francisco MTA director Ed Reiskin, Boston transportation commissioner Tom Tinlin, and Philadelphia deputy mayor of transportation Rina Cutler.

To get things rolling, here's Hayes, a lifelong New Yorker and self-described bike-riding partisan:

At the most micro level, transportation is incredibly political ... But at a broader level it's completely absent from our national political conversation. And this is bizarre.

Select highlights from the 53-minute panel after the jump.

    • 09:00 - Reiskin: We need to make public transit accessible, reliable and enjoyable
    • 11:30 - Klein talks about young people and transportation's vitality to a city
    • 15:14 - Cutler: "Money matters."
    • 17:23 - Tinlin: "Mayor Menino has said, 'The car is no longer king in Boston.'"
    • 23:50 - Klein talks gas prices in Netherlands vs. U.S. and transportation infrastructure
    • 31:03 - Sadik-Khan: We need to find partners in creating public spaces in NYC
    • 33:30 - Hayes refers to cars as "speeding machines of death"
    • 36:56 - Sadik-Khan: "Two-thirds of New Yorkers get around without a car, less than half own a car."
    • 48:21 - Hayes asks the panel about public criticism from the media and advice for future commissioners

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Tuesday’s Headlines: Don’t Look Up Edition

It's hard to believe that it's going to rain again today, plus other more important news.

September 26, 2023

Another Flip-Flop: City Hall Allegedly Pauses Almost-Done Underhill Ave. Bike Boulevard

City Hall is intervening in yet another street redesign project, and supporters fear it could be the start of dismantling other improvements.

September 26, 2023

Analysis: Everyone Agrees — Less Parking Means More Housing

Let's take a second-day look at Mayor Adams's "City of Yes" zoning proposal to do away with mandatory parking in new developments.

September 25, 2023

What is the Life of a Dead Pedestrian Worth?

A cop laughed that a normal person is only worth $11,000 — and that figure was partly due to his racism, but also how little we value the lives of people on foot.

September 25, 2023

Monday’s Headlines: ‘What is Up With All These Flip-Flops, Mayor?’ Edition

It's the same old story with this mayor and his chief adviser, Ingrid Lewis-Martin. Plus other news.

September 25, 2023
See all posts