New York City Transportation Commissioner to Speak at the New Mobility Congress 2025 in Katowice, Poland!

Ydanis Rodriguez, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT), has joined the lineup of speakers at the New Mobility Congress 2025, which will take place on Sep. 23-25th in Katowice, Poland! Commissioner Rodriguez, who has held the position since 2022, managing more than 5,500 employees and an annual budget of approximately USD 1.5 billion, will share live on stage his experience and vision for shaping sustainable transport in the largest city in the United States.

Ydanis Rodriguez is implementing a program introducing new forms of mobility in New York, such as last-mile deliveries with electric vehicles, the expansion of pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, and the development of micro freight hubs. Commissioner Rodriguez emphasizes that realizing this vision requires coordination between public administration, local communities, the private sector, and academia. The scale of the challenge is enormous. NYC DOT oversees one of the most complex urban transport networks in the world, including more than 10,000 km of roads and highways, 800 bridges and tunnels, and 15,000 parking meters. The resources New York allocates to the transport sector are equally impressive. The annual operating budget of the department led by Y. Rodriguez is USD 1.4 billion, while its 10-year capital budget reaches USD 33 billion (approx. PLN 120 billion). DOT employs over 5,500 people in total.

Ydanis Rodriguez was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to New York in 1983. He worked as a taxi driver and spent 15 years teaching in New York’s public schools. He was first elected to the City Council in 2009, and from 2014 to 2021 served as Chair of the Transportation Committee. Rodriguez oversaw transportation agencies, leading efforts to modernize public transit, expand bus lanes and cycling networks, as well as develop the city’s bike-share system. He was also instrumental in successfully implementing the “Car-Free Earth Day” initiative and actively participated in the annual “Riders Respond Tour,” during which activists and officials rode the subway for 24 hours to highlight challenges faced by public transit. Another notable achievement was the creation of the Fair Fares program, offering a 50% discount on public transit fares for New Yorkers living below the poverty line. Y. Rodriguez was also the initiator of nearly 40 legislative acts.

– New York faces many of the same challenges as Polish urban centers, only on a much larger scale. We are honored that the Commissioner managing the transport system of the largest metropolitan area in the United States has accepted our invitation to KNM 2025 and will share his experiences in implementing new forms of mobility in a city of nearly 9 million residents – says Agata Wiśniewska-Mazur, Coordinator of the PSNM Local Government Committee.

– The announcement that a representative of New York will be joining the New Mobility Congress is excellent news – says Kazimierz Karolczak, Chairman of the Board of the Upper Silesia-Zagłębie Metropolis (GZM). – This is a city that has been setting trends in transport and mobility policy for years, and engaging in dialogue with practitioners operating in such a dynamic environment is an invaluable opportunity for us to exchange experiences and find inspiration.

About the New Mobility Congress (Kongres Nowej Mobilności – KNM)

The New Mobility Congress 2025 will take place from on September 23-25​​ at the International Congress Centre (MCK) in Katowice, Poland. This is the sixth edition of the event, and this year promises to be record-breaking in every respect. Over 400 speakers will perform on 10 stages, covering 250 program items. The Expo Zone will cover 12,000 square meters.

The program is based on six thematic paths addressing the key challenges of sustainable transformation in transport, energy, the economy, and urban planning: Clean Transport, Urban Innovation, Sustainable Growth, Infrastructure & Investments, Climate Policy, Life Quality & Health. In addition, the New Mobility Congress will feature numerous side events, including the Bicycle Mobility Forum, Automated & Autonomous Vehicle Forum, New Mobility Security Forum, Urban Air Mobility Week, Driving Sustainable Aviation, and exclusive evening gatherings.

The New Mobility Congress is organized by the Polish New Mobility Association (PSNM). The host of the event is the Upper Silesia-Zagłębie Metropolis, with the City of Katowice as co-host.

More about the New Mobility Congress: https://kongresnowejmobilnosci.pl/

About PSNM

The Polish New Mobility Association (PSNM) is Poland's largest industry organization focused on shaping the electromobility and zero-emission technology market. PSNM brings together nearly 300 companies from the e-mobility value chain: vehicle manufacturers, battery and charging infrastructure manufacturers, charging station operators, energy companies, financial institutions, transport companies, technology suppliers, and other entities and institutions active in the field of sustainable development. PSNM is part of E-Mobility Europe, the largest organization dedicated to developing the electromobility market in Europe.

About the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis

The Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis comprises 41 cities and municipalities with a combined area of ​​2,500 square kilometers, with 2.1 million residents and 280,000 businesses. It is home to one of the most advanced transportation systems in Central and Eastern Europe – Transport GZM. Nearly 1,900 vehicles, 500 lines, 7,000 stops, and over 100 million kilometers traveled annually by buses, trams, and trolleybuses. The modern Transport GZM app integrates convenient ticket purchasing and travel planning.

About Katowice

Katowice, the capital of Upper Silesia and the heart of the Metropolis GZM, is one of the most important centers for the development of new mobility in Poland, combining the region's industrial tradition with modern, eco-friendly transport solutions. The city is actively developing electromobility infrastructure, promoting eco-friendly transport solutions, and engaging in smart city projects. Katowice is strategically located and plays a key role in the Polish economy.