Emanuel names new transportation chief

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has named a Chicago Transit Authority planning officer as the head of the city’s Department of Transportation.

A news release Tuesday from the city says Rebekah Scheinfeld will take over in an interim capacity in January. Former Chicago Transportation Commissioner Gabe Klein stepped down in November.

Scheinfeld’s appointment requires city council approval.

She is currently chief planning officer and a senior vice president at the CTA. Emanuel credits her with planning efforts to reconstruct the southern portion of the city’s Red Line.

She says she’s grateful for the opportunity and wants to continue to modernize the city’s transportation system.

Scheinfeld is an attorney and previously worked at Mayer Brown. She has degrees from Brown University and Northwestern University.