Council Confirms New Transportation Director

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City of Seattle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/15/2014

SEATTLEThe Seattle City Council unanimously voted to confirm Scott Kubly as the next Director for the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) today. Mayor Ed Murray selected Kubly on July 2. Kubly joins SDOT after having served as deputy commissioner of the City of Chicago Department of Transportation and former associate director of the District of Columbia Department of Transportation.

"People want reliable transportation options to get around Seattle, and SDOT is the department responsible for making that happen," said Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, chair of the Council’s Transportation Committee.  "I’m excited to have Scott Kubly bring his extensive experience to our transportation department."

Kubly will appear regularly before Rasmussen’s Transportation Committee to report on the department’s progress on pursuing the City’s transportation-related priorities. Kubly’s early priorities include:

  • Communicating with the public the work SDOT is currently doing and planning to do;
  • Ensuring that near-term high visibility projects are successful;
  • Working with City partners to deliver large capital projects;
  • Improving construction coordination to better manage growth;
  • Ensuring SDOT’s workforce – both in-house and contractors – reflects the diversity of Seattle; and
  • Ensuring we have adequate funding to build and maintain our transportation system.

"I’ve been working closely with Scott since he arrived in Seattle.  I am impressed with his strong start as Director and with his energy in getting out into the community to become familiar with the neighborhoods and their issues," said Rasmussen.

Mayor Murray announced Kubly as his nominee following a multi-month national search for candidates. The Council’s Transportation Committee conducted confirmation review meetings on August 12 and September 9, as the SDOT Director nominee is subject to Council confirmation.  The Council also presented several written questions to Kubly, to which he responded prior to his confirmation vote. 

The Director of SDOT will manage an annual operating budget of approximately $400 million and will be responsible for leading and managing more than 750 employees at SDOT. 

[View in Council Newsroom]