Move offers structure around function, not mode or customer group

Dec. 17, 2019

For more information, contact Tom Fuller, Communications manager, 503-480-5143

SALEM - The Oregon Transportation Commission has approved changes to the leadership structure of the Oregon Department of Transportation. The changes, effective immediately, do not alter the agency’s mission but instead will work to enhance that mission.

ODOT's new director, Kris Strickler, proposed the following changes to the OTC on Dec. 16.

Reorganize the department, establishing these four assistant directors:

• Cooper Brown, Assistant Director for Operations.
• Travis Brouwer, Assistant Director for Revenue, Finance and Compliance.
• Lindsay Baker, Assistant Director for External and Government Relations.
• Assistant Director for Social Equity (Recruitment to occur in January).

“Oregon is in the midst of tremendous change in the form of historic and unprecedented investments in the range of transportation choices being offered to Oregonians and in the development of new methods for financing those investments,” said Strickler. “This structure will allow for greater organizational health within the agency as it provides more nimbleness and adaptability to meet the challenges of the future.”

The New Structure

Director Strickler shared his thoughts with ODOT staff in a detailed article. He emphasized that many decisions are yet to come about how this will work out within the department – those decisions will be made in collaboration with staff and partners.

“This move furthers the vision of creating a transportation agency organized around function, rather than mode of transportation,” said Robert Van Brocklin, chair of the Oregon Transportation Commission. “I have worked closely with Director Strickler and am confident in his ability to lead ODOT into the future, including through technology and funding changes and through our efforts to improve environmental quality - as well as the range of choices for how our residents and visitors travel in our communities across the state.”

More on the “why”

• Preparing for the future: Technology, outsourcing, changes in demographics and the way people move... ODOT has had a structure that served it well at the time, and this new structure will help the agency move forward with faster decision-making, increased responsiveness to change, and better service to Oregonians.
• Continuing a multimodal evolution: ODOT will align itself by function instead of somewhat arbitrary divisions so it can better deliver what Oregonians want, when and how they want it.
• Putting our value of equity to work: ODOT is making this value something that is alive and well throughout our agency and our work. A new position within the newly structured executive leadership will help ensure ODOT’s work reflects the needs and values of Oregonians, including its own employees.
• Being ready to respond to financial challenges: The new functional organization will help ODOT be more knowledgeable about what’s coming in and what’s going out so that it can be better prepared with a variety of solutions for the inevitable variability of transportation funding.
• Carrying on successfully despite waves of retirement: The new structure will make it easier to go beyond the “one-deep” situations the department currently has throughout the agency. With a functional structure, people can more easily learn from each other so that the agency is better preparing current and future leaders.

ODOT will now organize itself by revenue coming and going out and by ensuring compliance of customers of those divisions which regulate transportation (DMV, Motor Carrier). A second group will oversee the design, delivery and maintenance of that system, no matter the mode. Though the Assistant Director for Social Equity is a new position, it is not a new concept for ODOT. The new structure, however, speaks to the commitment of the organization to this very important component of the work we do.

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