DSG | Koya partnered with Transportation Alternatives on its search for its next Executive Director.

Transportation Alternatives (TA) has been at the forefront of the movement for safe, equitable streets in New York City for 50 years. Combining neighborhood-level grassroots organizing with citywide advocacy, TA drives transformative changes in public policy, street design, enforcement, and resource allocation to create streets that are safe, accessible, and sustainable for all New Yorkers.

The search resulted in the appointment of Ben Furnas as Executive Director.

Furnas brings extensive experience in public policy, infrastructure, sustainability, energy, and municipal government to the role. Most recently, he served as Executive Director of The 2030 Project: A Cornell Climate Initiative, where he led efforts to accelerate large-scale climate solutions through cross-sector collaboration with Cornell faculty, staff, students, and external partners.

Prior to his role at The 2030 Project, Furnas served for eight years in the New York City Mayor’s Office, culminating as Director of the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Sustainability. In this role, he spearheaded initiatives that positioned New York City as a national leader in climate action and environmental justice. Notably, he played a pivotal role in the passage of a landmark law restricting fossil fuel use in new buildings—a first for any major four-season city—and helped secure an agreement to power New York City government operations with 100% clean, renewable electricity. This agreement catalyzed the development of two new transmission lines capable of delivering enough zero-carbon power to meet the energy needs of 2.5 million homes.

Furnas also drove major investments to reduce the climate impact of municipal operations. He led a $4.6 billion decarbonization initiative for New York City’s buildings and operations, as well as a $420 million investment to electrify the city’s 30,000-vehicle municipal fleet by 2030. He played a key leadership role in the launch of “Vision Zero,” a transformative street safety initiative that significantly improved safety and accessibility for people walking, biking, and using public transit across New York City.

Earlier in his career, Furnas held roles at the Center for American Progress, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, Auburn Theological Seminary, and the New York City Office of the Public Advocate.

A native of Ithaca, New York, Furnas earned his Bachelor’s degree in Government and Economics from Cornell University and graduated magna cum laude from New York University School of Law.

Read the Announcement: Transportation Alternatives Welcomes Ben Furnas as Next Executive Director.