Lettiere to depart New Jersey DOT

New Jersey Commissioner of Transportation Jack Lettiere, former AASHTO President, will resign his post as Gov.-elect Jon Corzine takes office in two weeks.

Although the Department has made no official announcement, Lettiere has confirmed reports in the Newark Star-Ledger this week that indicated that the 30-year veteran of the department would not stay on as a member of he new governor’s cabinet. Although still under consideration by Gov.-elect Corzine for the position, Lettiere cited personal and family reasons for his departure.

Lettiere played a key role as the AASHTO President in the past year in urging the U.S. Congress to complete legislation to reauthorize the federal-aid highway and transit programs. That law, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, authorized record levels of investment for transportation programs through fiscal year 2009, totaling $286.5 billion.

A passionate advocate of the highway safety Lettiere convened AASHTO’s second Summit on Highway Traffic Safety last spring and was recently named as the chair of the AASHTO Standing Committee on Highway Traffic Safety. He also serves as a member of the AASHTO Interstate 50th Anniversary Steering Committee.