ALBANY, NY March 17, 2026 – The Capital Region Transportation Council (Transportation Council) is pleased to announce City of Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy has been elected to serve as its next Policy Board Chair. His term will begin on April 1, 2026, replacing former City of Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan who did not seek reelection. Mayor McCarthy was nominated last month and elected at the March 5, 2026 Transportation Council Policy Board meeting.
The Transportation Council’s Policy Board is its decision making body, comprised of elected and appointed officials responsible for assigning over $700 million in federal transportation funds to plans and capital projects in the Capital Region counties of Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady, and Saratoga (excluding the Town of Moreau and the Village of South Glens Falls). Over $4.5 million in federal funds are assigned to planning activities in the annual Unified Planning Work Program and over $695 million in federal funds are assigned to capital projects listed in the four year Transportation Improvement Program. The assignment of federal transportation funds is guided by the priorities contained in the regional transportation plan In Motion: The Plan to 2050 adopted by the Transportation Council in September 2025.
Mayor McCarthy is in his fourth term as Schenectady Mayor and by virtue of his position, has been a Transportation Council Policy Board member since 2011. He also serves on the Transportation Council’s Administrative & Financial Standing Subcommittee and plans to be an advocate for the work of the Transportation Council. Mayor McCarthy is also the Past President of the New York Conference of Mayors.
The Transportation Council’s Policy Board consists of 25 representatives including each of the four Counties, eight Cities, the Town of Colonie, two rotating Towns and Villages, the NYS Department of Transportation, NYS Thruway Authority, the Capital District Transportation Authority, the Capital District Regional Planning Commission, the Albany County Airport Authority, and the Albany Port District Commission. Policy Board meetings are typically held on a quarterly basis and are open to the public.
“I am honored to be chosen to serve as the next Chair of the Transportation Council’s Policy Board. This is an exciting opportunity to work with state, regional, and local officials on planning for the next generation transportation system for the Capital Region. I look forward to serving and being a champion for the great work of the Transportation Council”.
“Mayor McCarthy has been a dedicated member of our Policy Board for many years and has a strong interest in transportation and the region. We are very fortunate to have him as our next Chair and look forward to his leadership and guidance on regional transportation issues,” said Sandra Misiewicz, Transportation Council Executive Director.
For more information about transportation planning activities at the Transportation Council, visit www.capitalmpo.org. Follow and like the Transportation Council on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
About the Transportation Council
The Capital Region Transportation Council is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the geographic area of Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady Counties (except the Town of Moreau and Village of South Glens Falls). The Transportation Council facilitates a transportation planning process as required by federal law and supported with federal funding.
The Transportation Council is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, its metropolitan transportation planning process on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, economic status, or sexual orientation.
If information is needed in another language, contact 518-458-2161 or send an e-mail to info@capitalmpo.org.
Si se necesita información en otro idioma, llame al teléfono 518-458-2161 o bien enviando un correo electrónico a info@capitalmpo.org.
如欲获得其他语言的相关信息，请联系：518-458-2161，或发送电子邮件至：info@capitalmpo.org。
إذا كنت بحاجة إلى المعلومات بلغة أخرى، فيُرجى التواصل مع الرقم 518-458-2161 أو إرسال رسالة بريد إلكتروني إلى info@capitalmpo.org
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