Blumenthal Meets With Secretary of Transportation Nominee Pete Buttigieg
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) met virtually with President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee for Secretary of Transportation, Mayor Pete Buttigieg. During the meeting, Blumenthal and Buttigieg discussed the need for a historic investment in America’s crumbling transportation infrastructure to benefit communities, the economy, and the environment.
Blumenthal and Buttigieg also talked about the importance of strengthening the safety and reliability of public transit, and the need for future relief to public transit authorities – especially the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Additionally, they discussed the importance of intercity passenger rail for Connecticut and other states along the Northeast Corridor, and the need for robust investment to enhance service and development for the traveling public to improve its reliability and safety. Blumenthal is a lead sponsor of the Intercity Passenger Rail Trust Fund Act which would provide dedicated, predictable annual funding for repairs, trip time optimizing investments, improving service, modernizing the fleet, and other needs across Amtrak’s network.
Blumenthal and Buttigieg also talked about the need to boost consumer safety and consumer protection in the transportation sector, shared reservations about the safety of driverless vehicles, the role of transportation in combating climate change, and improving airline traffic safety.
“As Mayor of South Bend, Pete Buttigieg knows how critical well-paved roads and new bridges are to our communities. He also knows firsthand the aging and crumbling state of our country’s infrastructure, desperately in need of a historic and comprehensive investment.”
“Today we discussed the Biden Administration’s bold plans to modernize the infrastructure system while prioritizing the health and safety of our communities, creating high quality jobs, and laying a new foundation for sustainable growth built to withstand the impacts of climate change.”
“I am especially looking forward to working together with Pete Buttigieg on improving our country’s public transit and intercity passenger rail systems. Passenger rail, so critical to Connecticut and other Northeastern states, is an invaluable mode of transportation that has been underfunded and neglected. Pete Buttigieg and I agree that to benefit the traveling public and the environment, we need to strengthen our rail system and use public transit and intercity passenger rail more effectively.”
“I am confident that as Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg will be the breath of fresh air needed to reinvigorate the agency and bring our country’s infrastructure into the 21st century.”
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