Washington State Governor Announces New Secretary of Transportation

AASHTO Journal, 22 February 2013

Washington State Governor Jay Inslee announced Tuesday the appointment of Lynn Peterson, Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber’s transportation advisor, as state transportation secretary.

Peterson will head the Washington State Department of Transportation, which is responsible for all transportation-related matters in the state from the ferry systems and railroads to highways and bridges. The Oregon native was a former highway engineer, and is currently the Sustainable Communities and Transportation Advisor to Kitzhaber.

“We need an innovative approach to fixing a transportation network that is outdated and hampering our economic growth,” Inslee said in a statement. “Lynn has experience, creativity, and leadership skills to help Washington build a transportation system for the 21st century.”

Peterson’s previous transportation experience includes managing several transportation initiatives such as the Willamette Valley Passenger Rail Plan and Kitzhaber’s 10-year Energy Action Plan.

“I am honored to have served Governor Kitzhaber and the citizens of Oregon,” said Peterson in a statement. “I am pleased to be joining Governor Inslee’s cabinet to help meet his desire to efficiently and cost-effectively build safe and healthy communities everywhere in the state of Washington.”

Peterson will replace Paula Hammond, who announced she was retiring after 34 years with WSDOT, more than five of which she spent as state’s transportation secretary.

In 2011, Hammond was picked to chair AASHTO’s Standing Committee on Highways. She also was chair of the AASHTO Sustainable Transportation: Energy, Infrastructure, and Climate Solutions Steering Committee, and served as the vice chair of the Standing Committee on Performance Management​. ​​

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