ATLANTA DOT: SAFETY, EQUITY, AND MOBILITY
In March 2019, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced that that she would create the City’s first ever standalone transportation department. This Department will consolidate staff from Department of Public Works, Department of City Planning, and the Renew Atlanta Bond capital construction program to more efficiently provide residents and visitors in Atlanta with high-quality mobility options. Once fully formed, the new agency will have almost 350 employees, with an annual operating budget of $50 million and a bond- and tax-funded capital program of more than $500 million.
Atlanta DOT will serve as the cornerstone of a smarter, more resilient Atlanta government that can turn transportation challenges into opportunities as the region doubles in population over the next 20 years, rather than just maintain the status quo on our streets. It will also leverage the Atlanta’s proven support for progressive mobility options, from 2015’s $250 million bond and $260 million sales tax to support transportation infrastructure to 2016’s resounding “yes” vote to spend $2.7 billion on More MARTA to help more Atlantans reach jobs, schools and services. With the under-development strategic plan tying these strands together, the agency will shepherd this City’s transportation transformation in order to:
• Improve access to employment, schools, education and city services for every neighborhood through street designs that better serve people on foot, bicycles, transit, and in motor vehicles
• Pursue programs and policies that make Atlanta more sustainable and expand transportation choices
• Prioritize transportation investments that improve safety, equity, and mobility aligned to the Atlanta Transportation Plan
• Support economic development through equitable transit-oriented development, and equitable capital project program, and other city priorities
• Work closely with MARTA to provide safer, more efficient transit service in parallel to the More MARTA capital expansion program
• Revamp the community engagement process for transportation projects to ensure community input is brought to the forefront of decision making
• Bring all city-owned infrastructure into a state of good repair
ATLANTA DOT COMMISSIONER: ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES
As the head of a newly-created transportation agency, the Commissioner will have a unique opportunity to shape and implement transportation policy for a rapidly growing major American city. This is an at-will management-level position reporting to the COO with day-to-day reporting to a Deputy COO.
The chosen candidate will manage a 6-member executive staff and oversee functional teams including: mobility planning, capital project delivery, operations & maintenance, finance & administration, and external affairs (including community engagement). The leader of the organization will serve as the foremost transportation leader for the City of Atlanta and coordinate with key partners at the City Council, fellow city agencies, MARTA, Georgia Department of Transportation, Atlanta Beltline Inc., community improvement districts and other community stakeholders. The Commissioner must also be committed to delivering services to all residents in a fair and equitable way that enriches quality of life by:
• Ensuring that Atlanta’s transportation and infrastructure facilities and programs are of high quality and meet the diverse needs of the city
• Determining the DOT’s fiscal and personnel needs and completing the formation of the department in order to best achieve Atlanta’s stated mobility, access and operational goals
• Stewarding existing revenues while also attracting new public and private funding sources to deliver Atlanta’s policy and investment priorities
• Attracting and retaining high-quality staff that will continually track performance, communicate with the public and more efficiently deliver projects.
ATLANTA DOT COMMISSIONER: ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES
As the head of a newly-created transportation agency, the Commissioner will have a unique opportunity to shape and implement transportation policy for a rapidly growing major American city. This is an at-will management-level position reporting to the COO with day-to-day reporting to a Deputy COO.
The chosen candidate will manage a 6-member executive staff and oversee functional teams including: mobility planning, capital project delivery, operations & maintenance, finance & administration, and external affairs (including community engagement). The leader of the organization will serve as the foremost transportation leader for the City of Atlanta and coordinate with key partners at the City Council, fellow city agencies, MARTA, Georgia Department of Transportation, Atlanta Beltline Inc., community improvement districts and other community stakeholders. The Commissioner must also be committed to delivering services to all residents in a fair and equitable way that enriches quality of life by:
• Ensuring that Atlanta’s transportation and infrastructure facilities and programs are of high quality and meet the diverse needs of the city
• Determining the DOT’s fiscal and personnel needs and completing the formation of the department in order to best achieve Atlanta’s stated mobility, access and operational goals
• Stewarding existing revenues while also attracting new public and private funding sources to deliver Atlanta’s policy and investment priorities
• Attracting and retaining high-quality staff that will continually track performance, communicate with the public and more efficiently deliver projects.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will be a confident, collaborative, and decisive leader with good judgement, strong professional presence, and an inspiring demeanor to drive transformational change within the organization and across the city. This candidate must develop, mentor and motivate a diverse, effective team while also maintaining a commitment to equity and fiscally responsibility. The candidate will have:
• A passion for safe, sustainable transport and infrastructure development
• Excellent communication, organization and fiscal management skills
• Deep appreciation and understanding of Atlanta’s historical and neighborhood context and the impact transportation has historically had on communities
• An understanding of transportation’s role in safety, equity, sustainability and access to opportunity
• Demonstrated commitment to championing safety in transportation planning with a preference for candidates with experience implementing a Vision Zero Policy
• Experience directing transportation planning, construction and maintenance projects
• An understanding of change management principles and experience leading teams through organizational transformations
• Ability to attract, retain, and cultivate talent
• Political savvy to work with colleagues, elected officials and a wide-range of stakeholder groups
• Emotional maturity, personal and professional integrity, and a sense of humor.
Education
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, social science, engineering, transportation, architecture, urban planning or closely related field. A Master’s degree is highly desirable.
Experience
7+ years of responsible management experience in transportation or public works administration, public sector management, or a closely related field including 5 years of supervisory experience. Public sector experience and related certifications (i.e., PE, PMP) are highly desirable.
