Neil Padukone

Neil started his career in post-9/11 policy, working to put systems in place to prevent similar catastrophes. He later pivoted to urban development, realizing that everyday neighborhood realities can also exact deep harm — or opportunity. Today he’s focused on mass transit, which is tied to issues of mobility, access, equity, climate justice, and economic development. Yes, modifying NYC’s veins and arteries is an expensive and long-term endeavor, but from Neil’s perspective, supporting the supply chain of businesses and frontline workers that manufacture, install, and maintain our transit is key to bringing about the innovations that will support our transit system and our city’s recovery.

At the new Center for Transit R&D, Neil will work with New York’s major transit systems to address critical — if unsexy — problems like signals, track abrasion, wheel friction, and more, collaborating with researchers, universities, and manufacturers to test, scale, fabricate, and implement solutions that bring our system into and through the next century.