Former Transportation chief joins DC think tank

A former Transportation secretary who served under Ronald Reagan is joining a Washington, D.C., think tank that advocates for increased infrastructure spending. 

Former Transportation Secretary James Burnley, the Reagan administration’s final infrastructure chief, has been appointed to the Eno Center for Transportation’s Board of Directors, the group announced on Thursday. 

Eno Chairman Lillian Borrone said the group was eager to tap into Burnley’s knowledge of federal transportation issues. 

{mosads}“Secretary Burnley has extraordinary transportation expertise in both law and policy, consequently his judgment and counsel will be invaluable contributions to the Eno Center Board,” Borrone said in a statement. “We look forward to benefiting from his experience and guidance as Eno’s work on significant policy issues and our influence across modal sectors continues to grow.”

Burnley recently joined current Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and 1o other fellow former DOT chiefs in pushing Congress to approve a long-term transportation funding bill after lawmakers last month passed a stopgap that only lasts until next May. 

Burnley was joined in signing a letter to lawmakers by Foxx and former Transportation Secretaries Ray LaHood, Mary Peters, Norman Mineta, Rodney Slater, Federico Peña, Samuel Skinner, Andrew Card, Elizabeth Dole, William Coleman and Alan Boyd.