Posts about Gabe Klein

With so many projects at critical junctures at DDOT, the prospect of a brain drain is a major challenge for new permanent director Terry Bellamy, new chair of the DC Council Transportation Committee Mary Cheh, and ultimately, Mayor Gray.

In any sector, the best talent is attracted not just by the compensation and responsibilities of a job, but also by the opportunity to work on impactful, cutting-edge projects. When employers create an exciting vision, it attracts talent.

Do talented transportation executives no longer view DDOT as a good place to shape the future of urban transportation in America?

Kubly says he's been thinking of leaving DDOT for some time. He considered leaving after Adrian Fenty lost the primary, but stayed partly because of his admiration for Bellamy and amid encouragement from many quarters to finish the streetcar job he started.

However, he cited a general malaise at DDOT that has grown in recent months. Working for the DC government is not seen as positively today as it was a year or two ago. He said that people now say something like, "I'm sorry," when they hear he works for DC, following the many scandals that have recently plagued the government.

Will more talented people leave DDOT? Will the city be able to attract talented and energetic people to the many now-open positions at the agency? They need to hire (or promote from within) a deputy director to fill Bellamy's previous job, a head of planning to succeed Ricks, a head of finance to replace Treat, and now a head of mass transit for Kubly's job.

In addition, there are several key new positions created at DDOT in the budget, including ward planners and, perhaps most importantly, a parking czar.

These questions are no doubt weighing on Bellamy. DDOT is well-funded in the new budget. But funding positions isn't enough if a bad reputation for DC and low morale at DDOT dissuades talented people from applying.

Ultimately, DDOT is much more than Kubly, Ricks, Treat, Klein and Bellamy. There are scores of excellent, visionary, dedicated public servants working in the trenches, spending long nights reassuring nervous residents, crunching numbers, and designing innovative projects.

Instead of prompting accusations, these departures can and should be a turning point, an opportunity to reassure DDOT employees and rebuild any morale problems that may exist.

Mayor Gray and Director Bellamy need to reach out to DDOT's remaining talented planners, engineers, and analysts. They should give personal assurances that they are still committed to a vision for transportation that transcends politics. They should praise and reward those who take risks to effect change, and perhaps apologize for the way political scandals have dampened the mood at DDOT.

We owe that much to the dedicated planners whose work goes largely unnoticed by most DC residents, yet whose dedication is critical to making Washington a great city.

However, the qualifications section is more troubling:

• Mastery experience and extensive knowledge of surface transportation programs such as the Federal-aid highway program, highway safety, bridges, planning and environment design, civil rights, infrastructure, ITS/transportation management, highway financing, and technology transfer systems;
  
• Extensive experience with or knowledge of budget development and management;
  
• Demonstrated ability to work with consumers, professional and voluntary associations and advocate groups on fostering and accomplishing strategic goals supported by state-of-the-art technology;
  
• Mastery of communications, both orally and in writing;
  
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field of study (e.g. public policy, urban planning and development, business, law, public administration, or related field);
  
• Must become a resident of the District of Columbia.

The job requirements focus on managing highway construction programs, but make no mention of managing a transit system. That will be a vital responsibility for an agency that runs the most successful bus system in the region and will launch a streetcar system on the next director's watch.

Neither is there any mention of the need to understand the relationship between transportation infrastructure and land use. That is a key distinction between progressive and old-school DOT heads.

Perhaps it's a nitpick, but the exclusion of folks who pursued liberal arts educations as undergraduates is also odd. It seems to unnecessarily exclude folks who may be more creative and open to new ideas. Yet, one of the requirements does just that.

It seems unlikely that Gabe Klein would have make this cut. Based on statements from Gray officials when eliminating the unified fund, it appears that Gray wants someone who will focus a lot more on dotting the i's and crossing the t's.

That's not a bad thing, and certainly doesn't mean the person will push the department just to build projects based on vehicular Level of Service models while ignoring multimodalism, land use, and community engagement. However, the job description also doesn't seem written optimally to attract candidates who are solid on the financial side but whose main strengths lie in bringing innovative programs to fruition.

The person heading up the executive search, Robert Clayton, has no experience with transportation or planning, but focuses on law, higher education and athletics. From one of the emails in his search, he touts his friendship with Mayor Gray.

I have been engaged to conduct the search for the new Director of Transportation to join the Administration of my good friend Mayor-Elect Vincent Gray. I have attached the Position Announcement. Please forward to interested colleagues and APTA members. Best, Robert Clayton

Privately, Gray and his transportation transition leaders, Tom Downs and Cell Bernardino, have assured advocates that they're not interested in the kind of director who ignores transit, pedestrians and bikes. To pick a great director, though, they'll still need to have a great candidate decide to apply and get past the search firm.

The full position description can be viewed here.

We'll be riding down U to 17th Street, past the businesses on 17th and along the new bike lane, then over to 15th and that cycle track to the Pennsylvania Avenue one which now extends all the way to 15th. We'll get to the Downtown Holiday Market around 5:45 or 6, where you're free to join the group. We'll carol, shop, and drink cider, then head back up via 14th Street starting around 6:15.

Hope to see you at the happy hour and/or on the ride!

For bike riders, feel free to deck out your bike or your person with lights, wreaths, ribbons or other festive trimmings. Candles are not recommended. And don't forget to dress warmly!

Gabe Klein will be wearing a Santa suit, and we'll make some caroling stops along the way. Also, DDOT will be collecting winter coats, socks, gloves, hats and other winter clothing for a clothing drive at Reeves. Please arrive early to drop off items so the drive organizers have a chance to collect everything and get it back inside before the ride.

Please obey all traffic laws. If a stoplight means the group gets split up, you'll easily be able to catch up quickly or at the holiday market or Marvin.

Don't have a bike? You can grab a CaBi bike at the Reeves Center station and renew your 30 minutes by depositing and re-checking it along the way.

Under his appointment I have seen more improvement and positive impact than in all of my previous 15 years in the District.
—Megan Nash, Ward 2

He has been very proactive on transportation issues. I even had a "chat" with him on the internet about an issue I was concerned about. We were "chatting" long after what I would consider a normal quitting time.
—Stephanie Partridge, Ward 3

I'm not a planning or transportation professional, just a 12-year DC resident. And I've come to realize how important the accomplishments of these individuals have been. The plans I see from the respective departments of Ms. Tregoning and Mr. Klein have been a great fit for the District, they have have been better communicated, and I have seen the results whether I'm driving my kids to school, biking to work, or riding Metro all over the city. They are professionals who do their jobs well, with great ideas and great results.
—John King, Ward 4

I love the fact that I can drive, walk, metro, bus or ride my bike almost anyware in the City that I have called home, property tax payer and all, for over 15 years.
—Guillermo Saenz, Ward 5

My personal opinion is that since Gabe Klein came on to oversee DDOT, the agency has improved exponentially. The response for calls for service are prompt and complete, the website for DDOT and inputing service requests has been simplified. Overall, under Mr. Klein's leadership, DDOT is an organization that has become the standard for cities nationwide, as well it should be since it represents "Our Nation's Captial".
—Chad W. Lewis, Ward 6

Mr. Klein has been an amazing public servant. From issues small to large, he has been receptive to ideas, suggestions and concerns every time I have contacted him. In fact, the first time I contacted him with my transportation concerns I received a personal response from him in just a few hours. This was very unexpected, but also quite welcome. Later, when a problem arose in my neighborhood, Mr. Klein made sure a representative from DDOT was on hand to meet with residents and hear their concerns.
—Tracy Russo, Ward 6

I am very happy with the improvements made to DC's transportation infrastructure during the last few years. The diversification of options—more bike lanes, upcoming streetcars, etc—are only improving my quality of life, and I really enjoy having choices about how I travel around the city.
—Joe Vess, Ward 7

Ms. Tregoning and Mr. Klein have opened the District of Columbia up to what its potential can and should be. I am behind their overall ideas, work, and communication with the public 100%. ... Mr. Gray, you could ask for no more than the brilliance these two have provided. And you will be hard-pressed to find replacements to even fill even half of their shoes.
—Eric Wrigley, Ward 8

Let's hope Gabe Klein's successor continues these great works so that we can say as many great things about him or her in a few years as so many of you did about Gabe.