Rina Cutler, Philadelphia deputy mayor for transportation and utilities and a member of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority Board of Directors, offered her perspective on public transportation administration and her place in it when she addressed the June 4 General Luncheon at the APTA Rail Conference.

“I never grew up thinking, I want to do this when I grow up,” Cutler said, noting that her first experience with transportation was serving as a school crossing guard in fifth grade. After she graduated from college with a degree in social work, “I thought I knew where I was going”—but, as it turns out, she was wrong.

Instead of social work, Cutler said, she has worked in a variety of civic jobs, including transportation, for seven different mayors and one governor in three states. She worked in transportation for the city of Boston, created a city agency in San Francisco, returned to Boston, moved to Philadelphia, and then served six years as deputy secretary of PennDOT before returning to the city as deputy mayor in 2008.

She shared some basic career and life lessons she has learned: “Be willing to jump off a cliff. If someone offers you an opportunity, know that you can do it.” As far as asserting leadership, Cutler said, “If you’re leading and no one else is following you, you’re just taking a walk. Act as if you are in charge and eventually you will be.”

Cutler advised public transportation professionals to become part of the conversation in their communities, make themselves known to the people in charge, and learn the issues quickly so they can begin making a contribution.

Above all, she said, “Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Know that your skills are transferable and you don’t have to stay in your wheel well.”

The luncheon session also included the presentation of APTA’s first Rail Safety & Security Excellence Awards. (See related story.)

AECOM sponsored the luncheon.