VHI Industry News Brief - - -  

Mary Peters Named Transportation Head

President George W. Bush has dubbed Mary Peters to be the nation’s new transportation secretary. Peters, a former federal highway administrator, succeeds Norman Mineta.  "Her skill and charisma inspire confidence in her leadership inside and outside of the federal government," said Mineta, who stepped down in July of this year. . . .  While serving as federal highway administrator, Peters advocated additional investment from the private sector in the U.S. road system.  She worked for improving bridges and safety on the nation's highways.  . . . Earlier, she was the head of the Arizona Department of Transportation, bringing together local governments and other transportation members in public and private partnerships.

Peters will be the second woman in this position after Elizabeth Dole, who served as transportation secretary for five years, starting in 1983. She is expected to become a strong advocate for reorganizing the transportation infrastructure and for using fees and tolls to build new highways.