BLET
Jeff Thurman, a member of BLET Division 172 in Fort Worth, Texas, became the newest member of the BLET Advisory Board when he was sworn into office on Jan. 1, 2026.
Thurman fills a vacancy on the Advisory Board created by the retirement of Vice President Pete Semenek. Immediately prior to his elevation to the Advisory Board, Thurman was serving as General Chairman of the BNSF (former STL-SF) General Committee of Adjustment, a position he has held since June of 2013. Per the GCA’s bylaws, Vice Chairman Kyle King will become the new General Chairman of the BNSF (STL-SF) GCA.
“Jeff Thurman brings a wealth of knowledge to the Advisory Board with more than 12 years of experience as a General Chairman. He is well-respected by the members he represents and will be a strong addition to the BLET Advisory Board,” said BLET National President Mark Wallace.
NYCDOT
Mike Flynn has been appointed as NYCDOT Commissioner following his swearing in during a midnight ceremony in the old City Hall subway station.
The appointment—the very first move made by Zohran Mamdani as Mayor— “underscores the administration’s commitment to delivering an affordability agenda through safer streets, faster buses, and transportation systems that work for working New Yorkers.”
Flynn brings more than two decades of experience across the public and private sectors, “helping cities envision and implement transportation systems that advance economic opportunity, social equity, and environmental sustainability.” His appointment, the Office of the Mayor says, “reflects the Mamdani administration’s focus on pairing bold policy goals, including fast and free buses and safer streets, with deep operational expertise.”
Most recently, Flynn led the New York office of TYLin City Solutions (formerly Sam Schwartz Engineering) where he supported teams of engineers, planners, designers, and community outreach specialists working across disciplines to solve complex transportation, development, and infrastructure challenges throughout the New York City region. As Vice President and Sector Manager for New York and the Northeast, Flynn oversaw major projects at the intersection of mobility, land use, and public space.
Previously, Flynn spent nearly a decade at NYCDOT, where he held senior leadership roles including Director of Capital Planning and Project Initiation. In that role, he guided the planning and delivery of major capital street improvement projects supporting traffic safety, bus priority, and new public spaces citywide. Earlier at DOT, Flynn worked on pedestrian and bicycle programs and transportation planning initiatives that helped reshape how New Yorkers move through the city, including leading the development of the City’s first Street Design Manual.
“High-quality, reliable public transit and safe, well-designed streets allow New Yorkers to get to work without worry, travel on multiple modalities, receive the daily necessities they need, and explore new corners of the five boroughs. Our City deserves a Department of Transportation Commissioner that recognizes the critical role that street infrastructure, road design, and excellent public transportation play in making this city an affordable, safe and dignified home for millions. That is the leadership I see in Mike Flynn, who has spent decades improving the way we walk and ride through our city—and will continue this work in City Hall,” said Mamdani.
“I am honored by the trust Mayor Zohran Mamdani has placed in me to lead the Department of Transportation and work alongside this team to deliver for New Yorkers. Transportation is essential to affordability and quality of life, it determines how people get to work, school, and home safely. I look forward to building a DOT that moves faster, puts safety first, and delivers real wins for working New Yorkers,” said Flynn.
