MARBLEHEAD — The state is putting all of its transportation eggheads in one basket — and one of them is a Marbleheader.

Lawyer Ferdinand (Fred) Alvaro, formerly a member of the MBTA board, has been named to an unpaid position on the new super board designed to oversee virtually all transportation issues statewide. Their responsibility goes from the Registry of Motor Vehicles to the turnpike to the T and beyond.

"I'm excited at the prospect of putting our hands around the problems," said Alvaro, a New York native and graduate of Harvard Law School.

He'll need big hands as the cash-strapped state scrambles to plug gaping holes in its budget.

Job one, Alvaro said, is educating himself on the task he's been given. "It's hard to understand what needs to be reformed until you understand what all the agencies need to do." But, citing his own background in finance, he said, "We can't continue to accumulate debt."

While acknowledging that the Legislature retains the power to raise money, he said, "At the very least, we need to come up with a good plan."

Alvaro dismissed a suggestion that his board might find itself in a position to take the blame for failing to end the difficulties.

"If I fail," he replied, "I deserve to be scapegoated. ... I'm excited. I have no misgivings." He described his fellow appointees, John R. Jenkins of Natick, engineer Andrew Whittle, management consultant Elizabeth Levin and union head Janice Loux, as "super-talented." He added, "This (reform) is something that needs to be done. Something important to the infrastructure of the state."

Alvaro promised that his experiences on the North Shore will enable him to bring the transportation difficulties of his neighbors to the attention of fellow board members. "My unique perspective is of a North Shore resident."

Already, there has been criticism of the new board, some complaining that moving an MBTA board member from one job to another means a continuation of old ways. Yet, Rep. Lori Ehrlich, D-Marblehead, is cautiously optimistic about the choice.

"I hope this means that the special transportation concerns of the North Shore region, such as tolls and public transportation, will have a strong presence on the board," she said. Ehrlich has played a major role fighting increased tolls. She noted that she's never met Alvaro but is impressed by his background.

A Marblehead address makes it virtually impossible for him to take public transportation, Alvaro said.

"I drive into work every morning," he said. Thereafter, he navigates the city on the Red and Green lines.

His hometown has been reduced to two bus trips a day, he said. Yet working with the MBTA mainly taught Alvaro just how dependent some are on the service.

The appointment came with praise from Gov. Deval Patrick, but Alvaro explained to the News last year that he hadn't known the governor when he was appointed to the MBTA board. "I'm not a politician. One thing I don't bring is a political agenda. I don't plan to run for office."

Alvaro will continue to work for his law firm while serving on the board.