Press Release  Samantha Silverberg Named Undersecretary of Transportation Policy

BOSTON — Interim Transportation Secretary Phillip Eng today announced that Samantha E. Silverberg has been hired as Undersecretary of Transportation Policy at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). A former senior transportation advisor to President Joe Biden, Silverberg will oversee policy development and implementation at MassDOT and manage special projects and initiatives to deliver a safe, reliable and efficient transportation system across the state.  

“Interim Secretary Eng is building a strong team at MassDOT to deliver the type of transportation system that our residents and businesses deserve,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We are excited to welcome Samantha Silverberg to the team, whose extensive transportation policy experience at both the state and federal levels will be a valuable contribution to the important work that MassDOT is doing every day.” 

“We have an amazing team here at MassDOT and bringing on Samantha Silverberg and the experience that she brings further demonstrates the commitment we have towards delivering a transportation system that best serves communities, businesses and people across the Commonwealth,” said Interim Secretary Eng. “Governor Healey and her Administration have entrusted us to ensure transportation drives housing, jobs and quality of life and we are building the leadership team to meet the needs of today and future generations.” 

“It’s an honor to return to working in transportation policy in Massachusetts,” said Silverberg. “Because of Governor Healey’s transportation investments, we have an incredible opportunity to make significant upgrades to roads, bridges and public transportation across the state, while also doing the work now to set this system up for long-term success. I’m grateful to Governor Healey and Interim Eng for placing their trust in me, and I look forward to getting to work with the entire team.” 

Silverberg was a senior transportation official throughout the Biden Administration, beginning as Special Assistant to the President for Transportation and Infrastructure and later rising to Deputy Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator and finally Deputy Assistant to the President for Infrastructure Implementation in the Office of the Chief of Staff. In this role, she was President Biden’s primary policy advisor on matters related to transportation and infrastructure. She was responsible for designing, negotiating, and implementing his signature bipartisan infrastructure law, deploying over $600 billion across transportation, water, high-speed internet, clean energy, resilience, and other sectors.  

Prior to joining the Biden Administration, she served as Senior Director of Capital Program Planning and then Deputy Chief Administrative Officer at the MBTA during Governor Baker’s administration. She is currently a Visiting Fellow at the Taubman Center for State and Local Government at the Harvard Kennedy School.  

Silverberg joins MassDOT’s executive leadership team alongside Undersecretary of Transportation and Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. She starts on Monday, February 23. 

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