Dear Pete Buttigieg, We Appreciate You & Already Miss You Too Much

Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg, brought tears to my eyes four years ago, and they were tears of joy. CleanTechnica, NRDC, and so many more fans were pleased that yes, “Finally, Infrastructure Week Isn’t a Joke.” Before I begin listing some of the daily natural highs I discovered while reading about his work in the Department of Transportation (for four years), let’s hear from him. A few facts:

“When we took office, roadway deaths had been going in the wrong direction for years and spiked during the pandemic. In December, we announced the 10th straight quarter of roadway deaths going down—steady progress that must continue.

“As I conclude my service as U.S. Secretary of Transportation, it is inspiring to reflect on the historic progress we have made.

“Every mode of American transportation is in better condition today than when we came into office four years ago. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has funded over 72,000 projects—repairing bridges, improving commutes, reconnecting neighborhoods, modernizing airports, enhancing passenger rail, and so much more.

“These efforts have fueled a rebirth of manufacturing and skilled trades jobs, including in my native Midwest, and brought extraordinary opportunities to communities across America.

“I’m proud of all that we have delivered and mindful that the results of our work will continue to unfold for years to come. Thank you for the opportunity to serve and for all we’ve accomplished together.”

As a CleanTechnica writer puts it, “Secretary Pete Actually Grasps Public Policy, & This Shouldn’t Be Unusual.” Secretary Pete, we want you back in four years.

And what has former Secretary Pete said today in response to tragedy and misplaced blame? “Despicable. As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying. We put safety first, drove down close calls, grew Air Traffic Control, and had zero commercial airline crash fatalities out of millions of flights on our watch. President Trump now oversees the military and the FAA. One of his first acts was to fire and suspend some of the key personnel who helped keep our skies safe. Time for the President to show actual leadership and explain what he will do to prevent this from happening again.”

I know we are all bracing ourselves for what’s next with the heartless disassociation from humanity at the core of the moves by the new administration. It is good to take a look back at the past four years, see what was accomplished, and hope for a followup with the next administration in 4 years.

“Serving the American people over the past four years has been an extraordinary honor. To everyone I’ve had the privilege of meeting and working with while serving as Secretary—especially the outstanding team of public servants at USDOT—I couldn’t be prouder of all we accomplished together. America’s infrastructure decade is fast underway. Until our paths cross again, thank you.” —Secretary Pete Buttigieg

Here are more highlights of the past four years with the best ever U.S. Secretary of Transportation:

• Investing in a Clean, Just Transportation Future
• U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg Announces Comprehensive National Roadway Safety Strategy
• EV Charging Between Canada & The US? Enjoy The New Binational EV Corridor
• U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Transportation, & Transport Canada — Taking Action to Reduce Rail Sector Emissions
• Secretary Pete: Transportation Dept. Should Be A Climate Agency
• Biden–Harris Administration: Next Phase of Thriving Communities Grant Program
• Sec. Pete Buttigieg Is Doing What’s Needed On The Infrastructure Bill
• $3 Million in “Quick Release” Emergency Relief Funding for Traffic Management & Repairs to Infrastructure Damaged by Wildfires in Lahaina

• Biden–Harris Administration: $600+ Million Available for Projects that Reconnect Communities
• NHTSA Finalizes Key Safety Rule To Reduce Crashes & Save Lives
• Biden–Harris Administration Announces 3rd Year of SMART Grants, Funding Transportation Technology & Innovation 
• High-Speed Rail Project Will Create Thousands of Jobs & Provide an Efficient Way to Travel Between Southern California & Las Vegas
• Ride Along with Secretary Pete Buttigieg & White House Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy (Video)
• U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s Security Details Drive A Ford Mustang Mach-E

More here: Pete Buttigieg archives