A Frank Conversation With Ray LaHood

In this 'anything-goes' Q & A between the NYT Magazine with Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, we learn about the derivation of his name, the car he drives, and more appropriate topics liks HSR, infrastructure, and George Will.

1 minute read

June 18, 2009, 10:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


LaHood drives a 1998, 15-mpg Buick Regal, is of Lebanese descent, and regards himself as being part of the majority party despite being a registered Republican.

"NYT: President Obama has talked about his desire to wean Americans off automobiles.

RLH: What we've talked about is getting to a concept that we call livable communities, where people don't have to get in a car every day. You can use light rail, you can use buses, you can use walking paths, you can use your bike.

As for the most pressing transportation need, LaHood points to the need to repair America's "streets, roads and bridges". Rails may have been inadvertently overlooked.

Thanks to NYTimes.com's Politics newsletter

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 in The New York Times - Magazine

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

November 11, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A road in north eastern Nebraska with power lines on either side, and grassy fields.

Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity

Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.

November 6, 2026 - Grist

People walking and cycling on a street in Boston.

Study reveals best places in the U.S. for cycling, walking

New research from Streetlight Data examines bicycle and pedestrian miles per capita in the 100 largest U.S. cities by population.

November 8, 2026 - Smart Cities Dive

A rendering of people walking through a park to the chicago bears stadium, which is large and dome shaped.

Developers reveal $10 billion stadium plan as ‘Hail Mary’ to keep Bears in Chicago

The plan would also boast a public park, high- and mid-rise buildings and a youth sports complex.

1 hour ago - Chicago Sun Times

People watch as carbon dioxide is vented during a safety demonstration outside Nome City Hall in Jefferson Co.

As Texas embraces carbon storage, a Black community questions the risks

Texas now issues permits for companies to store carbon dioxide underground. East Texas residents fear safety risks, and skeptics doubt the climate benefits.

2 hours ago - Texas Tribune

Two horses in the plains of Colorado. One is white, one is copper.

New BLM proposal would slash public comment periods, environmental protections

The proposed rewrite would also strip legal leverage from Tribal nations and state governments.

3 hours ago - The Trek

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.