O'Connell hires top aide to oversee new transportation plan

State of play: Sussman served as chief of staff to the U.S. Department of Transportation deputy secretary. She also was a senior adviser to former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

• O'Connell lauded Sussman for working "on the leading edge of transportation policy for nearly two decades" and for demonstrating "talent for engaging people from all walks of life."

What she's saying: In a meeting with reporters Friday, Sussman said she is excited to take the helm of a project widely supported by Nashville voters.

• The Choose How You Move plan, which raised the city's sales tax by half a cent, was approved by voters with 66% support.
• "It feels a little bit like the stars have aligned," Sussman said. "At a time when there's plenty of division, Nashvillians made one thing quite clear in November: They want and they expect more from their transportation system."

Zoom out: Before introducing Sussman at his weekly media briefing, O'Connell celebrated the recent legal victory in which a state Appeals Court upheld the vast majority of the transportation plan.

• He downplayed the court's decision to peel off $34 million worth of planned spending on land acquisition for affordable housing and parks.

Plus: O'Connell unveiled nine appointments to the advisory committee that will continually review how the transportation plan is implemented.

• School board member Zach Young, former state Rep. Gary Moore, and former city planning official Jennifer Carlat are among the appointments to the advisory committee.