Tibbits-Nutt to Lead MassDOT

Monica G. Tibbits-Nutt, Secretary, MassDOT

Monica G. Tibbits-Nutt has been appointed Secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). She had been leading the department in an acting capacity since Sept. 11.

Elevated from MassDOT Undersecretary for Transportation, Tibbits-Nutt succeeds Gina Fiandaca, who announced in August that she would step down from the leadership role. Fiandaca was appointed in January by Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey to oversee the Highway, Rail and Transit, Registry of Motor Vehicles, and Aeronautics divisions.

The Governor has now appointed Tibbits-Nutt to the role. “Monica Tibbits-Nutt is a proven leader who has done important work at MassDOT over the past year as we’ve worked to make Massachusetts’ transportation system more reliable, safe and accessible,” Healey said. “As Acting Secretary, she hit the ground running by working with the MBTA [Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority] to prepare a first-of-its kind plan to fix the tracks by the end of next year, taking important steps to integrate climate planning across MassDOT, securing federal funding to support infrastructure needs, and stepping up for communities that were devastated by extreme weather. She prioritizes community engagement and equity at every turn.”

According to MassDOT, for the past two months as Acting Secretary, Tibbits-Nutt has:

• “Facilitated emergency construction and relief in the wake of the catastrophic flash flooding and property damage caused by the October 11 rainstorm.
• “Received more than $108 million in funding from the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program, which will lay the groundwork for construction of West-East Rail.
• “Submitted federal funding applications for the Cape Cod Bridges, the Allston Multimodal Project, the Vernon Hill project in Worcester, and the Schell Bridge.
• “Released $4.7 million in Community Transit Grant awards directly to municipalities.
• “Received more than $4.57 million for infrastructure projects to improve road safety in Brockton, Haverhill, Lowell, and Somerville through a U.S. Department of Transportation Program.
• “Completed the Squires Bridge Project in Somerville in 25 days, on time and with minimal disruption to the 2023 Fluff Festival. The original projected timeline was 42 days.
• “Worked with the MBTA to prepare a first-of-its kind Track Improvement Plan and extended all MBTA ferry service into the late fall.
• “Moved forward in the process of standing up the first-ever Office of Transportation and Climate Planning and Policy as a shared service responsible for setting operational standards for both MassDOT and MBTA.”

As Undersecretary of MassDOT since January 2023, Tibbits-Nutt directed oversight over the Rail & Transit Division, Aeronautics Division, and the Office of Transportation Planning. Previously, she served as the Executive Director of 128 Business Council, a transportation management association and regional service provider that builds privately-funded, cooperative public transportation routes throughout the Route 128 West Corridor. 

Tibbits-Nutt is currently Vice President of the non-profit Youth Engagement Planning (YEP!), which brings urban planning and community advocacy into K-12 environments. Additionally, she commits time to mentorship through her roles as a member of the Board of Advisors to The Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston, and, less officially, by making herself available to the students and young professionals she has met through guest lecturing and her membership in the American Planning Association, the Transportation Research Board, and other professional associations, according to MassDOT. Tibbits-Nutt also serves on the Board of Directors of WTS International and the WTS Foundation, and the Board of Trustees of TransitCenter. She is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and a LEED Accredited Professional in Building Design & Construction with the U.S. Green Building Council.