File under: Totally unimaginable just a few months ago.

Following the appointment of Bruce Schaller as Deputy Commissioner for Planning and Sustainability, Jon Orcutt is DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan’s second high profile hire since taking over the agency. Stay tuned for one or two more big appointments.

Kate Slevin will be taking over as Tri-State Transportation Campaign’s acting executive director. Here is the press release from TSTC:

After 13 years with the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, Jon Orcutt is joining the staff of the New York City Dept. of Transportation to serve as senior policy advisor to new city transportation commissioner Janette Sadik- Khan.

The Tri-State Campaign’s board of directors has appointed Kate Slevin as acting executive director.

Jon’s new position is a testament to how far transportation reform themes have advanced in New York City and the metropolitan region. Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s PlaNYC sustainability program for 2030 embraces congestion pricing for Manhattan south of 86th Street and a host of improvements to mass transit and the city’s bicycling and walking environments. Congestion pricing to manage demand for metropolitan roadway travel was a founding principle of the Tri-State Campaign.

Jon has extensive experience as a transportation reform advocate in the New York region. He was executive director of Transportation Alternatives from 1989 to 1994, the Tri-State Campaign’s associate director from 1994 to 2003 and executive director until June 8th, 2007. Last fall he served on the transportation advisory committee to Governor Spitzer’s transition team.

"I’ve always had the highest regard for Commissioner Sadik-Khan’s abilities, vision and drive and am excited to contribute to the transportation aspects of PlaNYC under her leadership," said Jon. "Meanwhile, I’m confident the Campaign will not miss a beat in Kate’s capable hands."

Jon thanked the Campaign’s present and past staff members for their tenacity and invaluable contributions to the organization’s success, and the organization’s directors and funders for the incredible education and innumerable opportunities that working at the Campaign provided him.

"Viewed from the perspective of 1994, today’s public policy discussion of metropolitan transportation is almost unrecognizable. The Tri-State Transportation Campaign has played a strong role in changing the terms of discussion and the contents of many elements of policy. I think it’s worth a case study in public advocacy success, and it’s been a real privilege to have been involved," Jon said.