Gov Healey taps MBTA’s Eng as interim transportation chief
MBTA General Manager Phil Eng has been tapped as the state’s interim transportation secretary effective immediately, filling in a role created Thursday by the resignation of Monica Tibbits-Nutt.
The Healey administration announced Thursday morning that Tibbits-Nutt “has made the decision to step down” from her roles as secretary and CEO of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Tibbits-Nutt was appointed as secretary in September 2023 to replace Gov. Maura Healey’s first transportation secretary, Gina Fiandaca. Tibbits-Nutt was undersecretary of the department from the start of Healey’s gubernatorial term until Fiandaca’s departure.
Eng will be the third person to take on the role of transportation secretary in Healey’s less than three years in office.
Eng, who has worked as the T’s general manager since March 2023, will serve both as interim secretary and the T’s general manager during an undisclosed period of time. He came to Massachusetts from New York, where he worked with agencies including the Long Island Rail Road and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
“As General Manager of the MBTA, Phil Eng has overseen a transformative period for public transportation in our state and delivered the results that the people of Massachusetts have needed for a long time when it comes to safety and reliability,” Healey said in a statement.
Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver has also been tapped by the administration to fill the role of transportation undersecretary. He’ll retain his role as highway administrator while also taking on “expanded responsibilities” as undersecretary, Healey’s office said, adding that Gulliver is the longest-serving highway administrator in MassDOT’s history.
Tibbits-Nutt’s departure from the Healey administration is one of several in recent months, including former Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh, former Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao and Public Safety Secretary Terrence Reidy. Secretary of Veterans Services Jon Santiago is expected to depart this fall.
Eng is scheduled to hold an 11 a.m. media availability at MassDOT headquarters Thursday to discuss his new role. Eng is also slated to take questions from callers on GBH News’ “Boston Public Radio” at 1 p.m. Friday.
