AASHTO Journal, 31 May 2013
Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley announced Wednesday he has appointed James Smith to serve as Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation. Smith is scheduled to officially step into his new role on June 10.
Smith served as Baltimore County Executive for eight years, working closely with the state’s transportation department on various projects. During his time in that role, Smith oversaw a $2.5 billion budget and roughly 8,000 employees while focusing on land use and transportation planning, sustainable community development, and public private partnerships. In his new role as MDOT Secretary, Smith will oversee Maryland’s Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act, the state’s $4.4 billion bill that dictates new investments over the next six years (see related AASHTO Journal story here).
“I am honored to be able to serve with Governor O’Malley as Transportation Secretary during this amazing time in our state’s transportation history,” Smith said in a statement. “I like serving the public and working on public policy. I am committed to working with elected officials, fellow cabinet secretaries and with all the counties and municipalities across Maryland to turn this state’s vision of our future transportation network into a reality that creates good family-supporting jobs and quality of life for all Marylanders.”
North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple also announced this month that he has chosen Grant Levi to head up the North Dakota Department of Transportation. Levi, who has served as interim director of NDDOT since last November, has worked at NDDOT since 1980. Since then, he has held a variety of positions, including deputy director for engineering since 1999. Levi is a Professional Engineer and is trained in planning, programming, pre-construction, operations, and construction management. Levi has been an active AASHTO member, serving on the Standing Committee on Highways and the Reauthorization Steering Committee.
“I am honored to be appointed by Governor Dalrymple,” Levi said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing to work with the Governor, legislature, city, county and township leaders, as well as the entire NDDOT team to provide the essential services and infrastructure to safely move people and goods across the state.”