Transit leader Catherine Ross named to federal innovation panel

Photo Courtesy: Georgia Tech.

Longtime Georgia transit leader Catherine Ross has been named to an expert panel formed to advise federal Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on innovation.

The Transforming Transportation Advisory Committee is a sign that the U.S. Department of Transportation is finally grappling with the opportunities created by disruptive technology. Among these new technologies are electric vehicles, electric bikes, autonomous trams, ridesharing apps and on-demand transit.

“We are living in a time filled with unprecedented opportunity and unprecedented challenges in transportation,” Buttigieg said in a recent announcement.

Let’s hope the committee helps to update DOT’s regulations and funding formulas to support transit solutions that are more effective, efficient and flexible.

As executive director of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority from 1999-2003, Ross led Gov. Roy Barnes’ efforts to improve transit across metropolitan Atlanta. That drive became less ambitious after Barnes left office. Afterward, Ross returned to a faculty position at Georgia Tech’s School of City and Regional Planning, and led the Tech Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development

Ross and 26 other TTAC members are charged with (among other things), “exploring and considering issues related to”: 

• “Pathways to safe, secure, equitable, environmentally friendly and accessible deployments of emerging technologies

• “Integrated approaches to promote greater cross-modal integration of emerging technologies, in particular applications to deploy automation

• “Policies that encourage innovation to grow and support a safe and productive U.S. workforce, as well as foster economic competitiveness and job quality”