Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood declined again today to answer questions about whether he'll be back for President Obama's second term.

LaHood has earned a following with his conversational transportation items and gets warm receptions at public events. But the White House is nonetheless expected to announce a successor for the Transportation chief this spring. The Chicago Sun-Times, citing an administration source, reported that his successor might be a woman.

Neither the White House nor LaHood would comment on that article.

"I don't really have anything to report on that. These things have to be, you know, I don't have anything else," LaHood said. "I had a meeting with the president. ... There'll be more to come. We'll let you know."

LaHood addressed the annual Transportation Research Board conference in Washington, D.C. In his 15-minute speech, LaHood focused on his accomplishments in the Transportation post in what sounded like a farewell address. He also called for infrastructure investment.

"You know what's going on in China and Asia and other places in the world. They're out there beating us on infrastructure. ... We need the resources," LaHood said. "I hope you become a part of the debate. With you, America will become No. 1 again. That's where we need to be."

It is common for administrations to bring in new faces during a second term. This morning, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said he would be stepping down.

People who follow federal transportation politics and policy say Obama might choose Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa or former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) to replace LaHood. Women whose names are mentioned for the post include New York City Transportation Department Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, federal Department of Transportation Undersecretary Polly Ellen Trottenberg and Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire (D), although she's also being considered for the Interior and U.S. EPA administrator openings.

LaHood is the only Republican in Obama's Cabinet. He previously represented Illinois in the House and before that was an Illinois state legislator.