What you should know
- Old City Hall Station is proof that government can build great things that improve working people’s lives — Commissioner Flynn will carry that legacy forward
- With more than two decades of public service and transportation leadership across city government and the private sector, Flynn has delivered major street, pedestrian, and transit projects that improve safety, mobility, and access across New York City
- As DOT Commissioner, Flynn will usher in an era of safer streets and faster buses that deliver for working New Yorkers and advance the affordability agenda
NEW YORK, NY — TONIGHT, as his very first move as Mayor, Zohran Mamdani announced the appointment of transportation leader Mike Flynn as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation immediately following his swearing in during a midnight ceremony in the old City Hall subway station. The appointment underscores his 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 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 the New York City Department of Transportation, 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 Mayor Zohran 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 incoming DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn.
“RPA applauds the Mamdani Administration for appointing Mike Flynn as DOT Commissioner. He is a well-respected expert and leader in city transportation policy and we are excited to help him carry out a vision for better bus service and safer streets,” said Executive Vice President of Regional Plan Association, Kate Slevin.
“Mike knows the agency, the city and its streets from the inside out,” said former NYCDOT commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. “Mike will be a strong voice for Mayor Mamdani and for all New Yorkers in making transportation work for them, and for turning proposals into projects in the ground that will make the city’s streets safer, more accessible and affordable."
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Mike Flynn is the new Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation under the Mamdani Administration. Flynn brings more than two decades of experience advancing transportation, infrastructure, and urban development projects across New York City and the country, spanning senior leadership roles in both city government and the private sector.
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 the New York City Department of Transportation, where he held senior leadership roles including Director of Capital Planning and Project Initiation. In that position, he helped oversee the planning and delivery of major capital projects across the city, including street reconstruction, transit and resiliency projects, and pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. 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.
In addition to his work in government and the private sector, Flynn served for nearly eight years as a Visiting Professor in Pratt Institute’s Programs for Sustainable Planning and Development, where he taught courses focused on urban planning, transportation, and sustainable city design.
He holds a Master of Science in City and Regional Planning from Pratt Institute and a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science from the University of Vermont.