Mary Peters of Arizona DOT Chosen to Lead FHWA
IVsource.net
22 July 2001

This long-time ITS advocate has been tapped by George W. Bush to head the DOT's lead agency for Intelligent Vehicles.

In a development widely seen as “good news” for the intelligent vehicle community, President George W. Bush has named Arizona Department of Transportation Director Mary E. Peters to head the USDOT's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

Peters also sits on the Board of Directors of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America and is a longtime proponent of ITS technology in surface transportation.  If confirmed by the US Senate, Peters would head the federal agency with the biggest influence on ITS and IV spending.  FHWA has been seeking someone to fill the top spot ever since the departure of Kenneth Wykle this past January.

Peters was the first female AZDOT director when appointed in 1998.  A 15-year AZDOT professional, Peters has been heavily concerned with operations and maintenance of ITS elements, ITS standards, integration of multiple agencies in pursuing transportation goals, the development of a national 511 traveler information number, and resolution of the FCC ruling on shared telecommunication resources within public rights of way.

Peters has been an active supporter of advanced transportation programs in Arizona, including the AzTech intelligent transportation project in the Phoenix metropolitan area; freeway management systems in Phoenix and Tucson; the installation of ITS on Interstate 40; statewide road weather information systems; electronic clearance and weigh-in-motion program for commercial vehicles; and a comprehensive electronically integrated border crossing program.

In the IV arena specifically, Peters led a delegation including members of the state senate and transportation commission to Demo '98 in the Netherlands, where she was the highest ranking US official present.  She experienced a “full dose” of intelligent vehicle technology, and held discussions regarding intelligent vehicle-highway technology with high-ranking persons such as Hans-Georg Metzler of DaimlerChrysler and Fotis Karamitsos of the European Commission.  Applications of IV technology for enhancing safety and traffic flow have been seriously considered by ADOT for some time.

During her tenure in public service, Peters has been actively involved in legislative activities and transportation issues not only in Arizona, but at the national level as well.  In her capacity as FHWA head, she will likely play a significant role in the crafting of authorizing legislation to succeed the current Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, or "TEA-21," due to expire in 2003.

In an interview with ITS America News in October, 2000, Peters noted that ITS benefits Arizonans by allowing "commercial businesses, commuters and travelers to spend less of their precious time and money on transportation and more of it on the things that are important to them.  The bottom line in our business is less delay, less congestion and less frustration."

The word from Washington was that Peters has such wide support that the US Senate is likely to approve her nomination prior to their August recess.

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