After the September 11, 2001 attacks at the World Trade Center, Philip Plotch was appointed director of transportation and economic policy at the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation. In this role, he developed new transportation programs, conducted transportation studies, and helped establish priorities for the distribution of $2.7 billion in federal funds. Large projects received funding, including construction of a new PATH station and the reconstruction a state highway adjacent to the World Trade Center site. The federal funds were also used for smaller-scale projects including a program to redesign the street network so that it better served pedestrians. Dr. Plotch took the lead planning a new rail line between Long Island, John F. Kennedy International Airport, downtown Brooklyn, and Lower Manhattan – working with Manhattan civic groups, real estate developers, and other stakeholders to build support for the project in the U.S. Congress. Dr. Plotch also implemented new ferry services between Lower Manhattan and the city’s northern suburbs. Moreover, he managed teams that conducted economic impact analysis, market research, and business planning to inform strategies, decision-making, and project development.
