On June 5, Public Works Department Director Richard Mendoza took over for Austin Transportation Department Director Rob Spillar as the interim ATD director.
Spillar is moving to the private sector, and Assistant City Manager Gina Fiandaca appointed Mendoza, who has 27 years of experience in public service in Austin and other large metropolitan areas, as the interim director as the city looks for a permanent replacement.
“I had a very smooth handoff from the prior director Mr. Rob Spillar. I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with former director Spillar since my arrival in Austin in January 2017 as the public works director,” Mendoza said. “Many of the activities of both departments, we share the same space within the public right of way, and I’ve had the pleasure of working with both Rob and his team from the capacity of public works and partnering on a number of really tremendous initiatives and projects and programs to move our mobility improvements forward for our residents in the city.”
After many years as the director of public works, Mendoza said that he brings his experience as an executive support figure to those who work at the Austin Transportation Department.
“Our community expects safe mobility and transportation infrastructure. In public works, that means the condition of our pavements, our streets, our bridges, our sidewalks and urban trails, but that space also accommodates transportation, traffic signal operations, bikeways, so there’s a lot of overlap,” Mendoza said.
Mendoza added that his previous experience both in Austin and other cities has helped his transition to ATD as the city seeks a replacement.
In a memo from Fiandaca to Mayor Steve Adler and City Council announcing her decision, she cites Mendoza's experience collaborating with ATD.
“Public Works partners with Austin transportation on multiple fronts, including delivering mobility projects as part of the voter-approved bond programs,” she said in the memo.
The memo also stated that Deputy Director of Public Works James Snow will be the acting director while Mendoza is at ATD.
In a statement from Fiandaca, she said with the work between Public Works and the Austin Transportation Department, Mendoza serving as the interim Director helps continue the collaboration between the two departments.
"Selecting Director Mendoza to serve in as interim Director of the Transportation Department ensures continuity of operations as both departments continue to work to deliver critical city services," Fiandaca said.
As interim director, Mendoza will oversee administration and finance, the parking and enterprise division and vehicles for hire regulation.
“My plan is to keep the department going,” Mendoza said about his plans as interim director. “We’ve got a lot of good work underway, a lot of momentum built, not just with Project Connect but meet our Austin Strategic Mobility Plan goals to achieve a 50/50 modal split by the year 2039. It’s going to take a multipronged approach, not just infrastructure improvements around bikeways, safe pedestrian ways and intersection improvements, to achieve Vision Zero.”
When it comes to the possibility of being offered the permanent position as director of the ATD, Mendoza said he is keeping his options open.
“I get a great deal of satisfaction serving the community that I work for; I’ve always made myself available in any capacity to the community I serve to contribute in any way that I can,” Mendoza said. “I’m not closing the door on any options going forward.”
