On Monday Mayor Marty Walsh appointed Gina Fiandaca as the City of Boston’s new Transportation Department commissioner. Fiandaca has served as the deputy commissioner in an interim role since May 2014. In her permanent capacity, Fiancada will be charged with overseeing all transportation, parking, traffic, engineering and management initiatives for the city.
“Gina Fiandaca has served the residents of Boston for over 25 years, and brings extensive experience to her new role as Commissioner of the Boston Transportation Department,” said Mayor Walsh in a statement. “She has proven herself to be an exceptional leader, who has strong working relationships with advocates, community members, and state and federal transportation partners.”
Armed with a more than two decades of experience, much of which pertains to parking. She was responsible for bringing the parking ticket payment system online back in 1998 and oversaw all day-to-day parking operations between 2006 and 2014.
Given the amount of innovation seen in Boston’s burgeoning parking startup sector, and how significant of a pain point public transit and commuting is for people everyday (especially with the Olympic bid looming on the horizon), we thought it’d be great to acquaint you with Fiandaca a little better.
Nick DeLuca: Are you a lifelong Boston resident?
Gina Fiandaca: Yes. I’m proud to say that I was born and raised in East Boston. I love the area so much, that I actually bought the house I grew up in from my parents. I think East Boston is a yet to be discovered treasure. And, it has the best view in the city – we overlook the skyline. Beautiful on a summer evening.
ND: How do you commute to work every morning? How do you wish you commuted?
GF: The beauty of East Boston is whether I drive or take the T, I can be in the office in 15 minutes. I usually drive – but you can’t beat the T, just 5 stops on the Blue Line from Orient Heights Station to State Street Station! I wish I could run to work but that would be a pretty circuitous route from East Boston!
ND: Given your history of working around parking, what can you say about the recent emergence of new parking startups and apps?
GF: I’m thrilled with our own ParkBoston app, announced by Mayor Walsh in his State of the City address! This mobile phone app allows Boston drivers to pay for on-street parking, provides alerts before parking meters expire and grants drivers the opportunity to extend meter time remotely. With Mayor Walsh’s guidance, we’re keeping the focus on new technology and better ways to make it easier for residents, businesses and visitors to enjoy all that the City of Boston has to offer.
ND: From your perspective, what’s the number one thing that should be improved about transportation whether it’s public or private?
GF: It’s important that we explore new, innovative products and policies that have the potential to improve travel in Boston for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers alike. Enhancing the ease and accessibility of the city’s existing transportation network by researching, testing and incorporating appropriate updates is a priority.
ND: If you could jump in the car and take a road trip right now, where would you go?
GF: I’d go to Provincetown. I love the rugged remoteness of the outer cape. The running and biking trails nestled in the dunes are beautiful and I love the sand cliffs!
