Nashville is preparing for changes to its transportation system with the appointment of Sabrina Sussman as Chief Program Officer for the city’s new Choose How You Move initiative. According to the Mayor’s Office, Sussman brings experience from both the public and private sectors, including a recent two-year position at the U.S. Department of Transportation. She will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the voter-approved transportation improvement program aimed at updating mobility infrastructure and services in the city.
O'Connell's announcement showcases Sussman's return to municipal work after her federal positions, most notably as Chief of Staff to Deputy Secretary Polly Trottenberg and Senior Advisor to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. With a suprising 66 percent of Nashville voters throwing support behind the Choose How You Move program, the Mayor expressed confidence in Sussman's capacity to "successfully implement one of the largest capital programs in Nashville history," as stated in the news release.
Sussman herself is not a stranger to the complexities and demands of transportation policymaking, having weaved through the layers of city and federal governmental landscapes. As she prepares to usher Nashville into a new era of mobility, marked by enhanced safety protocols à la Vision Zero, she carries an acute awareness of her responsibility.
Until Sabrina Sussman officially assumes her role in early summer, Kendra Abkowitz has been leading the initial phases of the Choose How You Move program as acting program director. Sussman was introduced to Nashville leadership through Civic Match, an organization led by Caitlin Lewis of Work for America. Civic Match focuses on connecting cities with former federal professionals who bring mission-driven experience to address local challenges, a profile that aligns with Sussman’s background.
The Choose How You Move Advisory Committee on Transportation is being expanded to include nine newly appointed community members: Ashley Northington, Clay Haynes, Gary Moore, Gracie Sloan, Jennifer Carlat, Joseph Gutierrez, Rashed Fakhruddin, Walter Searcy, and Zach Young. These individuals will join the five members previously appointed by the Metro Council and Vice Mayor Angie Henderson, forming a 15-member committee designated to assist in guiding Nashville’s transportation planning and implementation efforts.
