T4America Blog

U.S. DOT Acting Assistant Secretary Beth Osborne joins Transportation for America

Transportation for America is pleased to announce the hiring of Beth Osborne, a key leader in federal policy at the U.S. Department of Transportation, where she served in the office of the Secretary since 2009 as Deputy Assistant Secretary and then Acting Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy.

In her new position, Ms. Osborne will serve as President of Transportation for America’s newly-created mission-driven consulting service, directing the organization’s on-the-ground work with the local communities seeking to invest in the infrastructure required for their — and the country’s — continued economic prosperity.

As a veteran of administering the competitive TIGER grant program at U.S. DOT, there are few who understand not only the difficulty in obtaining funding for innovative transportation projects, but also just how crucial these projects are to local communities. Ms. Osborne will oversee a new Transportation for America service dedicated to providing capacity, support and resources to the local communities and local leaders across the country that know smarter approaches to infrastructure and development are keys to their economic success.

She will also lead the newly created Center for Innovative Funding and Finance at Transportation for America, a go-to resource for leaders in both the public and private sector who are looking for insight on creative funding sources and financing for infrastructure that serves economic development and neighborhood revitalization.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome an expert like Beth to our team,” said James Corless, director of Transportation for America. “Few people in the country know as much as she does about how communities can get critical, innovative projects done in the complexities of today’s funding and policy environment, and we’re proud to bring her to Transportation for America.”

At the U.S. DOT, Ms. Osborne has played a key role in helping to steer federal policy toward creating more opportunities and greater latitude for local communities to improve their transportation networks in service to their economic development goals. She has been especially instrumental in implementing the popular TIGER program begun by Congress in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, helping to set evaluation criteria and select recipients of the competitive grants.

As a former Congressional staff lead on transportation, she also knows the ins and outs of the legislative process for the federal program; essential experience as the House and Senate prepare to take up reauthorization of MAP-21 later this year.

”I am so excited to join the team at Transportation for America,” said Ms. Osborne. “I’m eager to be a part of helping motivated local communities turn their ambitious transportation plans and visions into reality. It’s not easy to make projects happen in this climate today and I look forward to being a part of their success.”