Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Danny Harris to Step Down

TA Deputy Executive Director Elizabeth Adams and Senior Director of People & Operation Megan Eiss will step in as interim co-executive directors.

NEW YORK – After nearly five years with Transportation Alternatives, Danny Harris will step down as executive director of Transportation Alternatives in June.

Under Harris’ leadership, TA secured: a massive expansion of New York City’s lifesaving speed safety camera program to include thousands more cameras, operating 24/7 for the first time in history; the creation of a first-in-the-nation Open Streets and Open Restaurants program that reclaimed acres of street space for dining and recreation, and saved tens of thousands of jobs in the height of the pandemic; the installation of miles of bike lanes, tens of thousands of new bike parking spaces, a protected bike lane on the storied Brooklyn Bridge, New York City’s first bike boulevard and first car-free busway; a commitment to include Sammy’s Law in the final state budget; and the enactment of congestion pricing, the Streets Master Plan, commercial waste reform, and the Vision Zero Design Standard.

Harris steered the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic, the creation of TA’s first staff union, and the expansion of TA’s organizing and research teams, as well as the growth of Families for Safe Streets both locally and nationally. As executive director, Harris brought TA into new partnerships, which led to pioneering joint projects, such as Spatial Equity NYC, built with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and others with NASA, Remix, and WXY. Under Harris’ tenure, TA’s mission centered on reclaiming New York City’s streetscape for people and popularizing the idea that space used for storing and moving cars can and should be converted into plazas, bike and bus lanes, and opportunities for outdoor dining and recreation. Harris was named in City & State’s New York City “Transportation Power 100” every year since 2021. 

Transportation Alternatives is pleased to announce that Deputy Executive Director Elizabeth Adams and Senior Director of People & Operations Megan Eiss have been promoted to interim co-executive directors, and will lead the organization upon Harris’ departure. Adams has spent her career serving the people of New York City through roles in both advocacy and government and now leads TA’s policy and public affairs work. Eiss is a legal professional with a long history in nonprofits and organizations working to improve life for New Yorkers. Adams recently led the organization’s successful push to include Sammy’s Law in the final state budget, an accomplishment shared with Families for Safe Streets. 

Harris will remain with Transportation Alternatives until early June when he will transition to become Executive Director of The Aspen Institute Socrates Program. Board Chair Bahij Chancey and Vice Chair Hope Reeves will lead a search committee for a new executive director. The board will also work closely with Megan and Elizabeth over the next few weeks to prepare for new leadership. 

“Our sincere gratitude goes to Danny for his leadership at Transportation Alternatives over the last four years. He steered the organization with a steady hand through a transformative time for TA and our city, guiding us through COVID and a sea change in the way that New Yorkers use our streets,” said TA Board President Bahij Chancey. “We thank Danny for his stewardship of Families for Safe Streets’ national growth, and his work to strengthen TA’s policy and research teams to center data-driven action and equity throughout the organization’s practice. He leaves TA in a stronger place and ready to rise to any challenge ahead.”

“As I look back on my time at TA, I am in awe of all that we have done in support of a more equitable, safe, and wonderful New York City. Our wins follow five decades of transformational leadership at TA and set the groundwork for the next fifty years of this organization's success,” said outgoing Executive Director Danny Harris. “TA is an institution. The projects we dream up, get built. The things we make happen in New York, spread to other cities across the country. I am forever grateful for this opportunity and want to especially thank our staff, board, advisory council, activists, and partners. TA’s best days are yet to come.”  

“Danny has been an incredible leader for Transportation Alternatives, and TA is a stronger and more innovative organization because of his vision, work, and dedication,” said incoming interim co-Executive Director Elizabeth Adams. “New York City is better because of his tireless dedication towards a city with safer, more liveable, more vibrant streets and communities. Together, we've been able to accomplish so many lifesaving wins. I’m honored to step in as Interim Co-Executive Director with Megan Eiss, and we will continue TA's work to build streets for people and a city that truly serves New Yorkers."

“It's a privilege to have worked with Danny, whose drive to improve streets for everyone is matched by his care for TA team members and supporters. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have worked with him, and to be part of the safe streets movement,” said incoming interim co-Executive Director Megan Eiss. “I’m excited to tackle this new challenge as Interim Co-Executive Director with Elizabeth Adams. Her deep knowledge of TA's issues makes her an incredible partner. As we step into our next chapter, I'm confident we will continue to build a more livable New York.