March 27, 2015
The city's deputy mayor for transportation and utilities will soon ride a new train to work.
Rina Cutler, who has worked for the mayor since March 2008, will become senior director for major station planning and development with Amtrak, helping to author master plans for Amtrak’s largest stations across the country. Her last day with the city is April 17.
“Rina Cutler is passionate about public service, the future of cities, and innovation and diversity,” Mayor Nutter said in a statement. “It is with deep appreciation I announce her resignation and wish her well in her new position with Amtrak. She will bring a lifetime of talent, energy and passion to infrastructure development on a national stage at a time when Americans must plan for and invest in greener, more sustainable transit.”
Cutler was appointed to improve coordination between city departments and agencies, including Streets, Water, and the Philadelphia International Airport, and to manage relationships with owners of significant regional infrastructure like PECO, PGW, DRPA, PennDOT, Amtrak, private railroads, and the Philadelphia Parking Authority.
In a news release, the administration highlighted some of Cutler's key achievements:
• In 2010, the new $67 million South Street Bridge opened on time and on budget connecting the neighborhoods of Center City, South Philadelphia and University City.“I am honored to have had the opportunity to serve Mayor Nutter and the citizens of Philadelphia for the past seven years,” Cutler said in a statement. “With Mayor Nutter’s leadership and the incredible work of the staff in my office, the commissioners of the Streets and Water Departments and the CEO of the airport, Philadelphia’s infrastructure and transportation service are significantly better than in 2008. More importantly, all are on track to be even better in the years to come. The focus on how to use our streets differently, make them safer for all users, that public space is a crucial amenity has been driven by a mayor who had a vision for how transportation can improve safety, sustainability and economic development.”
Cutler was named the 2011 Public Works Leader of the Year by American City and County Magazine. Previously, Cutler worked for PennDOT, the City of Boston, the city of San Francisco and served as the executive director of the Philadelphia Parking Authority.
