After 30 years with the organization, Pete Ruane, CEO of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), announced his retirement this week.
Ruane, the longest tenured leader of the organization, will retire effectively in October, and be succeeded by COO and Executive Vice President William Toohey in an acting capacity. A search for a full successor is already underway, having begun earlier this year.
“It has been my honor and privilege to serve ARTBA and help advance its mission of ensuring solid investment in transportation infrastructure to meet the demand for safe and efficient mobility,” Ruane said. “The nation’s economy and quality of life literally ride on the fine work done by the men and women in this industry. I’m proud to have been supporting them. This organization has incredibly strong volunteer leadership and an outstanding staff. I believe it is well-positioned to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.”
When the former U.S. Marine Corps officer joined ARTBA in 1988, transportation presented a very different landscape. Federal investment in U.S. highway and transit programs, at the time, was at just $16 billion, but since then, has bloomed into a $60 billion annual investment. Ruane has been an integral piece in an ever-evolving industry and has assisted post-election presidential transition teams, worked with politicians and lobbied on federal transportation investment policy. He also played a vital role in the development of the Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC), which united 31 national associations and labor unions, and the Americans for Transportation Mobility (ATM) organization, which is led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
“Pete’s passion for ARTBA’s mission and his successful industry leadership over the past almost three decades cannot be overstated,” ARTBA Chairman Matthew Cummings said. “He has built ARTBA into a highly-respected, formidable operation on multiple fronts—government relations, policy development, economic research and analysis, safety training and promotion. He leaves behind a powerful legacy both in Washington and the industry.”
Ruane is a past chairman and current director of the Small Business Legislative Council, an officer of the International Road Federation, and a trustee of the ARTBA Transportation Development Foundation.
Ruane is a graduate of Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland, and holds a master’s degree from Pennsylvania State University. He also holds a doctorate in public administration at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C.