In a statement today, Governor Rell announced that ConnDOT Commissioner Joseph Marie had submitted a letter of resignation and was leaving to “pursue long term employment opportunities and to spend more time with his family.” Deputy Commissioner Jeffrey Parker, who oversaw ConnDOT’s public transit bureau, has been appointed the Acting Commissioner.

While the announcement came earlier than expected, it was not wholly surprising.  Commissioner Marie may have simply read the writing on the wall.  Governor Rell is not seeking reelection, and the next governor will likely appoint a new commissioner.  Still, it is a loss to Connecticut’s transportation leadership.

During his two-year tenure at the agency, Commissioner Marie dramatically altered the vision of the Department. Before he took the reins, ConnDOT was primarily a road-paving agency that had been rocked by scandals, lacked any kind of vision, and was seen as a regional embarrassment. It has become a leading example for sustainable transportation policy in the region.

Marie, who was the first ConnDOT chief with a transit background, started the culture change at ConnDOT with public comments on the need to connect land use with transportation.

But Commissioner Marie didn’t just talk the talk.  His leadership was integral to jump starting the State’s high priority transit projects, the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield commuter rail line and the Hartford-New Britain Bus Rapid Transit, which had languished for a decade.  The New Haven-Springfield line received $40 million in federal High Speed Rail funding and funding for the Busway was included in President Obama’s 2011 budget.  Both are positioned to receive further federal funding later this year.

Perhaps his lasting legacy, however, will be the effective killing of wasteful road expansion projects like Route 11 and I-84. Marie saw that, given the state’s limited resources and huge repair backlog, ConnDOT needed to embrace a “fix-it-first” policy focused on maintaining and repairing existing road and bridge infrastructure. This shift was reflected in Tri-State’s analysis of ConnDOT’s most recent spending priorities.

While ConnDOT’s support for bicycling and pedestrian projects during his tenure left much to be desired, Commissioner Marie and Deputy Commissioner Parker recognized the need for improvement and, in TSTC’s experience, were open to any suggestions that would help move the agency towards a more sustainable future.

Hopefully the elevation of Deputy Commissioner Parker will mean the continuation of Marie’s policies.  Acting Commissioner Parker, in addition to being open to collaboration, has proven to be a skillful manager during his tenure at ConnDOT.  However, the longer term question of institutionalizing the changes remains.  Commissioner Marie leaves behind a more transit-focused, smart-growth-oriented ConnDOT. Whoever assumes the governorship next year must make sure it stays that way.