Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms this week tabbed transit guru Josh Rowan as the city’s first commissioner of its newly formed Department of Transportation (ATLDOT). Rowan, currently General Manager for the City of Atlanta’s Renew | TSPLOST Programs, has nearly 25 years of experience in implementing transportation policy.
Before joining the city government, the Georgia Tech grad worked as an executive for construction management firm MBP.
The Department of Transportation was officially created in June of this year, pushed forward by the Bottoms administration and by Atlanta City Councilman Andre Dickens, who sponsored legislation to study the concept.
ATLDOT’s first project will be implementing the city’s One Atlanta: Strategic Transportation Plan, a three year plan that includes goals such as repaving over 200 miles of city roads, implementing new parking strategies, improving pedestrian and bicycle access, and helping connect neighborhoods to public transit.
“Creating this Department gives Atlanta the transportation leadership it needs in our rapidly growing region,” said Bottoms. “Josh Rowan will lead this new agency as we work to improve mobility in every neighborhood. Historically, we have had three departments working in silos from their own plans. Today, we have one team and one plan focused on building streets that safely serve every Atlantan, no matter how they choose to get around.”
