We at the City of Philadelphia are deeply saddened by the recent passing of Rina Cutler, our former Deputy Mayor for Transportation from 2008 to 2015 during the Nutter administration. Rina oversaw the former Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities (MOTU), which was eventually reconfigured into the present day Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability (OTIS).

Ms. Cutler was a dedicated public servant in Philadelphia for many years as well as in Boston and San Francisco. Rina served as Executive Director for the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) from 1994-2000, Deputy Secretary of Administration for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) from 2003-2008, and Senior Director for Major Station Planning and Development at Amtrak from 2015-2018.

During Mayor Nutter’s press conference to announce her departure for Amtrak, he thanked Ms. Cutler saying, “She’s a leader in her profession. She’s passionate about public service, passionate about cities, passionate about big ideas and big cities with diverse opportunities for innovation. And certainly has a lot of energy.”

Rina described herself as passionate about three major themes: cities, airports, and high-speed rail. In her service, Rina was able to make a substantial impact on all three. Her legacy at the City includes:

  • South Street Bridge renovation – which reopened a month early, on budget, and earned her the American City & County’s recognition as the Public Works Leader of the Year for 2011.
  • Green City, Clean Waters – a 25-year plan to reduce the volume of stormwater entering combined sewers using green infrastructure and to expand stormwater treatment capacity with traditional infrastructure improvements.
  • SEPTA – establishing a new level of cooperation between the City and SEPTA.
  • Complete Streets program – focusing on pedestrian safety through traffic and street redesign for all options of transport including walkers, bikers, drivers, and transit riders.
  • Indego Bike Share program – overseeing the planning and evaluation phases that led to the launch of the program.
  • And, many other accomplishments and City programs that continue to serve the public today.

We have compiled some thoughts from those who worked directly with Rina during her tenure with the City:

  • “Rina was an inspirational role model.  She exhibited a rare ability to fight for what is right with humor, wisdom and guile, and a boundless commitment to the common man.”
    • Ariel Ben-Amos, Philadelphia Water Department, Strategic Planning Program, Policy and Partnerships Group Supervisor, MOTU
  • “Few people led like Rina. She commanded every room she walked into, and she made it clear that she was calling the shots. You’d answer her questions, and answer them straight. No funny stuff. She also made it clear that she had your back when you needed it. Her people got the work done, and she did whatever it took to make them successful. Big personality? Yeah. Big impact on Philadelphia? Undoubtedly.”
    • Aaron Ritz, former Transportation Programs Manager, Office of Transportation, Infrastructure and Sustainability, MOTU 
  • “A supportive leader, savvy negotiator, and strategist, Rina was sharp, calm-under-pressure, encouraging, and wise. She was truly our champion, having impacted many lives and success stories.”
    • Gus Scheerbaum, P.E., Department of Streets, Director – Transportation Strategic Initiatives, MOTU
  • “Rina Cutler was a mentor to a generation of leaders in transportation in this region.   She invoked a family of public servants when building relationships with partner agencies. This was easy because she had worked with or hired so many of the decision makers in these organizations. She was a strong presence in many of our careers and our ideas about transportation and infrastructure. Smashing through glass ceilings with the force of her personality, Rina always called herself a ‘babe in total control of herself.’   Working with Rina, she insisted that we combine thoughtfulness with zeal when pursuing our vision.”
    • Michael Carroll, P.E., Deputy Managing Director, Office of Transportation, Infrastructure and Sustainability, (OTIS) – formerly MOTU

On December 11, The Philadelphia Citizen published a tribute to Rina written by Andrew Stober, who served as Director of Strategic Initiatives, MOTU from 2008-2010 and as Chief of Staff, MOTU from 2010-2015.

Read the Philadelphia Inquirer’s obituary for more stories on Rina’s life and commitment to public service.