Governor Maura Healey announced on Thursday that Secretary of Transportation Monica Tibbits-Nutt is stepping down from her position and that MBTA General Manager Phil Eng will replace her on an interim basis.
It was not immediately clear why Tibbits-Nutt decided to step down from her post. Her exit follows weeks of turbulence at MassDOT over a fumbled deal with an Irish company to oversee updates to several highway rest stops across the state.
According to Healey’s office, Tibbits-Nutt plans to return to the private sector. She has agreed to stay on as an advisor through the end of the year to ensure a smooth transition.
Healey’s decision to name Eng as the MassDOT’s interim leader follows a successful tenure as head of the MBTA since March 2023. Since being named to that post, Eng has followed through on a promise to rid the aging transit system of slow zones and overseen some of the most significant expansions in service in years.
During a press conference following Healey’s announcement, Eng faced questions about how he will manage his new portfolio at MassDOT while still overseeing the T. Eng maintained that he can handle the additional workload.
“I intend to stay just as engaged as I have been with the MBTA,” Eng said. “That doesn’t sound feasible, but it is.”
Eng added that he plans to treat his new post as more than temporary and that he is “not worried about the interim tag.”
“I’m open to holding it as long as it’s needed,” he said.
Eng did not elaborate on Tibbits-Nutt’s decision to step down, saying only that he wishes her well and appreciates the work she has done for the Healey administration, MassDOT and the MBTA.
According to Jim Aloisi, who served as Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation under Governor Deval Patrick, Tibbits-Nutt’s departure was not a surprise.
“I can’t speculate on the factors and the timing,” Aloisi said in an email to GBH News. “But I do not think this comes as a shock to people who follow these things closely.”
In addition to the controversy around the highway rest stops contract, Tibbits-Nutt was publicly rebuked by Healey last year for floating the idea of implementing tolls at the state’s borders. Aloisi said that may have diminished her ability to effectively lead the department.
Aloisi added that he knows from personal experience that the transportation secretary job is “demanding” and “often thankless.” He said Healey’s choice to name Eng MassDOT’s interim leader “makes a good deal of sense,” given his accomplishments at the MBTA and the fact that the Governor Healey trusts him.
As part of the shakeup, state Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver has been promoted to Undersecretary of Transportation for Massachusetts. According to MassDOT, Gulliver will continue to oversee the state’s highways in his expanded role.
Tibbits-Nutt has not spoken publicly since the announcement but in an email to MassDOT employees, she thanked them for their work.
“I am extremely proud of our achievements together, from advancing historic infrastructure investments to emphasizing equity, resilience, and innovation in all aspects of our work,” she said.
