State Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen appears to be on the chopping block according to reports in the Boston Herald. Governor Patrick has been taking heavy incoming flak from key legislators over his Administration’s delay in putting out a comprehensive transportation reform package. That flak is apparently causing a rift between the Governor and the Secretary, with leaks coming out of the executive branch that are not flattering to the Secretary. From the Herald:

“There’s been some dissatisfaction with him and his inability to get things done,” one state official said, referring to Cohen.

In a war of words with Senator Steve Baddour the Governor has had his lack of a plan waved in front of him like a pile of kryptonite. Secretary Cohen may be the casualty. Lets see if we can get the Governor to give Secretary Cohen a ringing vote of confidence. Then we will know the end is near!

As an add on to this posting the State House News Service is now reporting that Cohen will be replaced by James Aloisi. From the State House News Service:

State government sources said they thought Patrick would appoint Aloisi as a way to revive support for the administration’s transportation agenda, which is flagging with a legislature impatient for more sweeping proposals.

Cohen had already ceded power over day-to-day operations of the secretariat to general counsel and undersecretary Jeffrey Mullan, who commands greater respect in the Legislature than Cohen, who at times has frustrated lawmakers. Cohen notified secretariat personnel of that change in an October memo.

Aloisi, too, enjoys strong support among lawmakers. He has donated frequently to many of their campaigns and to Patrick.

He also brings an extensive history in the state’s massive transportation bureaucracy. The Goulston and Storrs attorney, who focuses his practice on transportation law, has reportedly billed the state over $3 million for Big Dig consulting work.