Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger has tapped transportation veteran Nick Donohue to lead the state’s transportation department, selecting a longtime policy hand with experience under three previous governors. While Donohue brings decades of insider knowledge, some observers note his past initiatives have had uneven results.
Donohue, a Richmond native and consultant, has guided several high-profile projects, including highway funding reforms, passenger rail expansion, and Metro stabilization. He played a key role in securing $154 million in annual capital funding for Metro in 2018 and has worked on the Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative, which aims to deliver near-hourly rail service between Richmond and Washington by 2030. Yet, critics argue many of these projects have faced delays and limited measurable improvements.
He recently served as a private consultant to DMVMoves, a regional task force that just completed a proposal for Metro funding and broader transit improvements across the D.C.–Maryland–Virginia region. Spanberger emphasized transportation’s role in economic growth but avoided addressing any past shortcomings in Donohue’s record, according to Richmond Times-Dispatch.
“To strengthen our economy long into the future, we need to make sure Virginia has efficient infrastructure that allows families to get to work and school, businesses to transport their goods, and travelers to see all that the commonwealth has to offer,” she said. “Virginians deserve a visionary leader who understands the vital role that our transportation network plays in building a stronger, safer and more prosperous commonwealth.”
Donohue said he will focus on connecting Virginians to jobs and communities. “Transportation is ultimately about opportunity, connecting people to jobs, education and the communities they call home,” he said. “I am committed to ensuring that every investment we make strengthens those connections.”
A Virginia Commonwealth University graduate, Donohue previously served as assistant and deputy transportation secretary under Govs. Tim Kaine, Terry McAuliffe, and Ralph Northam. (RELATED: As Democrats Take Over The Legislature, Here’s What They’ve Got Planned)
His consulting firm, Transportation and Infrastructure Strategies LLC, launched in 2022, has advised a range of regional transit efforts, though some projects he consulted on are still in early stages or have encountered delays.
As he steps into Spanberger’s transition team, Donohue faces scrutiny over whether his past experience will translate into tangible improvements or repeat long-standing delays in Virginia’s transportation network. (RELATED: Virginia GOP Chair Steps Down as Party Faces Blowback of Major Election Losses)