Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
Honoring the contributions of influential Hispanics to the Transportation Industry
September 15th marked the beginning of National Hispanic American Heritage Month. In honor of this annual observance, we're sharing the stories of a few LatinX Americans who have made significant contributions to the transportation industry and nation. Thank you, Connect2Dot, for sharing this in this month's newsletter.
Nuria Fernandez - Federal Transit Administration
On June 10, 2021, Nuria Fernandez became the first Afro-Latina to lead the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Before joining the FTA, she served as General Manager and CEO of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), where she was responsible for 2,100 employees, created an incubated space to test new technologies, and oversaw the completion of the first Bay Area Rapid Transit, a heavy rail service into Silicon Valley. With more than 35 years of experience in some of the most active transportation agencies in the country, she has made a name for herself as a trailblazer and a leader.
Federico Peña - Former Secretary of Transportation
In 1993, Federico Peña became the first Hispanic American to hold the position of U.S. Secretary of Transportation and later went on to be elected as the Secretary of Energy. During his career in transportation, he advocated strongly for federal investments in highway and transit projects. Federico found great success in law, politics, and business, setting a path for future minorities. He championed bilingual education, civil rights, and equal opportunities. Eventually, he became the first Hispanic Mayor of Denver, where he was honored with his name on the main freeway to Denver International Airport.
Victor Mendez - Federal Highway Administration
Victor Mendez created impressive initiatives as a Federal Highway Administrator from 2009 to 2014. He created the Every Day Counts (EDC) initiative and directed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which revitalized the nation’s infrastructure, created tens of thousands of jobs, and secured $26.6 billion for bridge and highway projects. He also served as an engineer and Director for the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and President of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
Latinos are crucial to the transportation leadership and workforce nationwide. Hispanics make up the second-largest proportion of transportation workers. Their contributions have made American transportation possible, and we will continue to support their development and success in this country.
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