Foxx Unanimously Confirmed as Transportation Secretary

This story appears in the July 1 print edition of Transport Topics.

Anthony Foxx, the current mayor of Charlotte, N.C., was confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate last week to be the nation’s next transportation secretary.

“I’m honored by today’s Senate vote. Safer, more efficient transportation can make a difference in every American’s life,” Foxx said in a statement. “I’ve seen it firsthand in Charlotte, and I’m looking forward to continuing the president’s commitment to improve transportation in communities across the country once I’m sworn in as the next transportation secretary.”

Foxx, 42, said he will resign his mayoral post July 1. A Democrat, he has led the state’s largest city since 2009.

He succeeds Ray LaHood, a former Republican congressman from Peoria, Ill., who says he will return to private life.

The Senate confirmation vote on Foxx was cast without debate June 27.

There was no word from the White House when Foxx would be sworn in and begin work at the U.S. Department of Transportation.

But President Obama said in a statement issued by the White House after the vote that he was pleased and looked forward to working with Foxx “as we aim to modernize the infrastructure that powers our economy.”

Foxx knows “firsthand that investing in our roads, bridges and transit systems is vital to creating good jobs and ensuring American businesses can grow and compete in a 21st Century global economy,” said the statement from Obama, who began a weeklong trip to Africa on June 26.

Foxx’s nomination and confirmation hearing generated no controversy and considerable praise. Likewise, the congratulations were numerous after the confirmation vote.

“As I said when he was nominated, the challenges of being mayor of a large city like Charlotte are not all that different from those of being a governor,” American Trucking Associations President Bill Graves said. “So, I’m confident he will be up to the test of providing this country with the first-rate, world-class transportation system our industry and our economy demand.”

Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, said: “Foxx is a skilled and respected leader who understands that America’s economy cannot thrive without a world-class transportation system and workforce.”

The same day as Foxx’s confirmation, LaHood gave a final speech to members of the National Press Club in Washington. Aside from thoughts about his term, he cited challenges Foxx will face.

“There’s no debate about what America needs. We have 50-, 60-, 70-year-old transit systems all over the country. We have a president with a vision for high-speed rail. America is what I call one big pothole right now, we need to fix up our roads and bridges,” he said.

He also lamented a lack of bipartisanship to solve problems. Without bipartisan work, he said he doubts Congress can pass a reauthorization of highway programs when MAP-21, the current spending law, expires in October 2014.

“I do think the prospects are pretty good in the Senate right now,” he said. “I think the prospects in the House are not good.” He blamed the lack of cooperation on politicians who “came here to do nothing. And that’s what they’ve been doing.”

LaHood said he plans to take two months off at his home in Peoria.

After that, he wants to start working again, and he hopes to serve on the boards of some nonprofit organizations, he said.

Graves thanked LaHood: “While we have not always seen eye-to-eye on the issues, no one can question Ray’s passion and the vigor he brought to the job,” he said. “

While LaHood had experience in Congress before coming to DOT, Foxx is expected to bring a different perspective.

Brian Turmail, spokesman for the Associated General Contractors of America called Foxx an “inspired” choice.

“More so than someone from Congress, a mayor’s in a position to really appreciate the need for funding solutions,” Turmail said. “The mayor is the one held accountable for traffic and potholes in the end, but also they’re in a pretty good position to appreciate how challenging it is to get any kind of regulatory approval on new infrastructure.”