BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey announced today that Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) General Manager Phillip Eng will serve as interim secretary of transportation.
The move follows Monica Tibbits-Nutt’s decision to step down as MassDOT secretary and CEO, effective immediately. Tibbits-Nutt will remain on as an advisor through December 31, 2025, to assist with the transition before returning to the private sector.
Eng will temporarily hold both roles as Interim Secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and General Manager of the MBTA, while Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver has been promoted to undersecretary of transportation, expanding his leadership responsibilities while continuing to oversee the state’s highway operations.
“As General Manager of the MBTA, Phil Eng has overseen a transformative period for public transportation in our state,” Healey said. Later adding, “He is a trusted leader with decades of transportation experience, and I know that he is the right person to lead MassDOT during this period.”
Eng praised Tibbits-Nutt’s work and said he looks forward to continuing the state’s efforts to modernize transportation. “A well-balanced multimodal transportation network is essential,” he said. Later adding, “I look forward to taking on this interim role with MassDOT and working even more closely with Undersecretary Gulliver and their great team to deliver the world-class transportation system that the people of Massachusetts and our visitors deserve.”
Tibbits-Nutt led several major projects during her tenure, including the Cape Cod Bridges program, the West-East Rail initiative, and the Sumner Tunnel restoration. Under her leadership, MassDOT secured a record $1.8 billion in federal transportation funding and launched the state’s first fully funded fare-free regional transit program, Healey said.
