Danielle Spila, Director of the Bureau of Public Transportation, PennDOT

Danielle Spila has worked in various positions at the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) since 1998. Currently she is serving as Director of the Bureau of Public Transportation where she is responsible for over $2 billion in annual federal and state investments in public transportation across the state that support over 400 million trips annually. PennDOT provides oversight for 35 fixed route systems and 44 systems that provide subsidized demand response service.
In 2007, Pennsylvania passed Act 44 which took public transportation out of the general fund and provided a dedicated, growing funding source. Since then, PennDOT has become more involved in monitoring performance and providing technical assistance to transit agencies. PennDOT’s recent investments in statewide deployment of technology include the development of a Capital Planning Tool, implementation of a statewide paratransit scheduling software, deployment of a statewide application tool for subsidized transportation services and support for statewide implementation of fixed route ITS for both rural and urban systems. Additionally, PennDOT provides funding, consultant assistance and oversight for a significant capital facility development program that supports planning, design and construction of administration, maintenance and storage facilities for transit systems.
Danielle has previously worked in the Program Center and directed the Office of Policy and served as a Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary for Local and Area Transportation. During those assignments, she worked on interagency issues including land use, economic development and transportation.
She is a graduate of King’s College and American University.