En route to Panama City to address a transportation conference and talk with Panamanian officials about opportunities for U.S. Firms in the $5.25-billion expansion of the Panama Canal, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters talked with ENR about her mission and about key legislative and funding challenges in the aviation and highway sectors.

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Mary E. Peters
U.S. Transportation Secretary

A native of Peoria, Arizona and former head of that state's transportation department, Peters became chief of the U.S. Transportation Dept. in fall 2006. She had previously headed the agency's Federal Highway Administration and is a former senior vice president at engineering firm HDR. Peters is also now heading a congressionally-mandated commission now studying new approaches to highway finance.