AASHTO Journal - Senate Confirms Marc Molinaro as FTA Administrator

Marcus Molinaro (above) was recently confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 71 to 23 as the 16th administrator of the Federal Transit Administration.

[Above photo via the House of Representatives]

Tariq Bokhari, who previously served as FTA’s acting administrator, has transitioned to the role of deputy administrator for the agency.

“Marc’s leadership, experience, and commitment to ‘Making Transit Safe Again’ will be a strong asset,” noted Sean Duffy, secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, in a statement. “I am confident Molinaro will help … our transit partners maintain safe and clean systems that move American families forward.”

A lifelong New Yorker, Molinaro previously represented New York’s 19th Congressional District in Congress, where he served on the House of Representative’s Committee on Agriculture, Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, and the Committee on Small Business.

His career in public service began in 1994 at just 18 years old, when he was elected to the Village Board of Trustees in Tivoli, NY. One year later, he was elected Mayor of Tivoli—becoming the youngest mayor in America at the time. He was re-elected five times, earning a reputation for revitalizing the village and strengthening local government. Simultaneously, Molinaro served four terms in the Dutchess County Legislature.

From 2006 to 2011, Molinaro represented the 103rd District in the New York State Assembly, where he served as Assistant Minority Leader Pro Tempore. In 2011, he was elected Dutchess County Executive, a position he held for three terms, before stepping down following his election to Congress in 2023.

He also served in leadership roles with the New York State Association of Counties and as President of the New York State County Executives Association.

In 2015, Molinaro founded the “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” initiative – a call to action for communities to foster inclusion and break down barriers for individuals with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities. The initiative became a national model and has been adopted by municipalities across New York State and beyond.

Molinaro resides in Catskill, NY, with his wife, Corinne, and their four children.