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Carolina L. Mederos
Principal
Carolina Mederos, co-chair of the firm’s Transportation, Infrastructure and Local Government Practice, counsels corporations, trade associations and local governments on congressional and executive branch policy, legislative and regulatory matters, with an emphasis on creative federal funding and infrastructure development. She has obtained billions of dollars for the firm’s major transportation, water and local government clients through authorizing legislation, appropriations, grants and innovative financing and has expanded market opportunities for private sector clients.
Carolina’s substantive, comprehensive and creative strategies have consistently increased federal funding for public agency and local government clients in highways, transit, aviation, water, wastewater, economic development, urban revitalization, housing, law enforcement, health, historic preservation and other areas. To achieve maximum benefit for clients, she has developed and proposed new programs, changes in eligibility requirements and funding formulas and succeeded in getting them enacted into law.
She regularly assists major domestic and international corporations in removing outmoded and costly legislative, regulatory and policy barriers, expanding market access and increasing competition. She secured legislative and policy incentives promoting innovative project delivery and advanced technologies, saving time and money in transportation projects and creating market opportunities. She resolves complex Buy America, hazardous materials, motor carrier, rail, pipeline, maritime and vehicle safety legislative, regulatory and compliance issues in Congress and at the US Department of Transportation (DOT).
Carolina’s strong knowledge of transportation, infrastructure and federal funding issues is a direct result of having been involved in the development of every surface transportation and aviation reauthorization proposal and DOT appropriations act over the last 30 years. Previously, Carolina served for more than 13 years in senior positions in the Office of the Secretary of DOT, including as deputy assistant secretary for Safety and as deputy assistant secretary for Policy and International Affairs. She also served as director of Programs and Evaluation, where she was responsible for developing and defending the entire Department’s authorizing and appropriations legislation before the Office of Management and Budget and Congress.
- I-69 Mid-Continent Highway Coalition – An organization of cities, counties, states, business, labor, and civic groups from a nine-state trade corridor connecting Canada and Mexico. She played a key role in creating a new program to fund corridors and assisted in obtaining over US$1 billion in congressional earmarks and grants for I-69.
- American Water Works Association (AWWA) – Assisted in creating the Water Infrastructure, Finance and innovation Act (WIFIA) legislative proposal for AWWA and other associations. The proposal, endorsed by the US Conference of Mayors, was signed into law in June 2014. Modeled on the successful transportation TIFIA program, WIFIA provides long term, low interest loans to accelerate investment in major water infrastructure projects.
- Worked with a major software manufacturer to demonstrate the benefits of 3-D modeling in accelerating transportation projects and cutting costs in planning, environmental review, design and construction. Resulted in incentive programs at DOT and in MAP-21 promoting the use of 3-D modeling, including 100% federal funding.
- Assisted producers of transit equipment and facilities in developing manufacturing plans to comply with the Federal Transit Administration’s Buy America requirements. Client’s plans were approved and withstood protests and litigation.
- Wayne County, Michigan – Assisted in negotiating a US$185 million increase (from US$115 million to US$300 million) in Detroit Metropolitan Airport’s Letter of Intent with the Federal Aviation Administration to fund airport improvements, and obtained an additional US$86 million for the airport’s South Access Road in appropriations and authorizing legislation.
- Shreveport, Louisiana – Assisted in securing millions of dollars in appropriations earmarks and grants for transportation improvements, downtown and riverfront revitalization, water and air quality projects, museum programs, and restoring historic structures.
Education
- Vanderbilt University, B.A.
- University of Chicago, M.A.
Memberships & Affiliations
- Board of Directors, Washington Airports Task Force
- Next Generation Partner – Government Relations Tier 1, The Legal 500 US 2019-2022
- President of the United States Award for Meritorious Executive
- Gold Medal Recipient, Secretary of Transportation Award for Outstanding Achievement (the Department’s highest honor)
- Secretary of Transportation Award for Meritorious Achievement
- Department of Transportation Award for Superior Achievement
- Quoted, “Analysis: What will Joe Biden do about infrastructure?,” P3 Bulletin, November 13, 2020.
- Co-author, “2018 Midterm Elections Analysis: President Donald J. Trump, a Democratic House, and a Republican Senate – What to Expect,” November 2018. (Republished by Law360, December 2018)
- Quoted, “Transportation Legislation and Regulation to Watch in 2018: FAA Reauthorization Bill and Air Traffic Control Overhaul,” Law360, January 1, 2018.
- Speaker, “Navigating Buy America(n) and American Iron and Steel,” WWEMA 44th Washington Forum, Washington DC, March 22, 2017.
- Quoted, “4 Transportation Priorities to Watch For Under Trump,” Law360, November 16, 2016.
- Co-author, “2016 Post-Election Analysis: A New Administration and a New Congress – What to Expect,” November 2016. (Republished by Law360)
- Quoted, “Chatham Area Transit Starts Conversation About Regional Transportation,” Savannah Morning News, May 25, 2016.
- Quoted, WIFIA Advocates Await Appropriations Bill,” Infra-Americas, May 6, 2016.
- Co-author, Local Funding Opportunities in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, March 2016.
- Co-author, Market Update: A Review of Recent Activity in the US Public Private Partnership (P3) Sector and the Outlook for the Year to Come, March 2016.
- Co-author, President’s FY 2017 Budget Proposal, February 2016.
- Co-author, Fixing Americas Surface Transportation Act Opportunities for Private Sector Investment and P3s, December 2015.
- Co-author, Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) Summary, December 2015.
- Speaker, “WIFIA: Innovative Financing to Address Water Infrastructure Needs and Accelerate Investment in Major Water Projects,” Squire Patton Boggs Panel/Webinar, Washington DC, September 17, 2014.
- Speaker, “Infrastructure Development in the United States, WIFIA,” Public Works Financing Briefing with Congressman John K. Delaney, New York, New York, June 17, 2014.
- Guest, “The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Authority Provision of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act,” Capital Thinking Radio Show, May 29, 2014.
- Guest, “The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act,” Capital Thinking Radio Show, April 11, 2013.
- Presenter, “Elections 2012: What it Means for the Water Community,” American Waterworks Association (AMWA) Webcast, November 8, 2012.
- Guest, “Transportation Report,” Capital Thinking Podcast, November 8, 2010.
- Guest, “Surface Transportation and Reauthorization ,” Capital Thinking Radio Show, September 23, 2010.