New Transportation
Planning Director Named
JEFFERSON CITY - The Missouri
Department of Transportation has named Machelle Watkins as transportation
planning director effective Aug. 1. She succeeds Kyle Kittrell,
who is retiring after a 29-year MoDOT career.
In this position, Watkins
will oversee the development of the department's five-year highway
and bridge construction program with assistance from statewide
planning partners and local community officials. She will be
responsible for the Missouri Advance Planning ,
or MAP , a long-range planning initiative
scheduled for completion next summer that focuses on the future
of Missouri's transportation system and services.
"Missouri has more transportation
needs than money to address them," said MoDOT Director Pete Rahn.
"So effective planning and decision-making are vital in selecting
the most critical transportation projects and focusing on the
state's highest-priority transportation needs.
"Machelle's commitment
to effective transportation planning and to customer service is
a great benefit to the department and the state as we seriously
consider Missouri's future after Amendment 3. She brings admirable
experience, expertise and enthusiasm to her work."
MoDOT's Transportation
Planning u nit has been nationally recognized for developing Missouri's
transportation planning and decision-making process, called the
Planning Framework. This process provides local officials and
the general public a better understanding of how transportation
decisions are made, and opportunities to participate in the process
and influence the decisions.
Transportation Planning
is also responsible for collecting, managing and analyzing data
for developing, operating and maintaining the state's transportation
system.
It assists both small
and large cities with local road and bridge programs. Transportation
Planning also offers statewide guidance on bicycle and pedestrian
accommodations, and air quality impacts to transportation.
Watkins joined MoDOT in
1989 after graduating from Tennessee Technological University
with a bachelor of science in civil engineering. Prior to her
new appointment, she was a technical support engineer in the Design
Division at the Jefferson City Central Office. Watkins, a registered
professional engineer, has also worked in MoDOT's Sikeston and
Jefferson City district offices.
She and her husband, John,
have two children and reside in Jefferson City.
Editor's note:
If you would like a camera-ready photo e-mailed to
you, please call MoDOT Community Relations at 573-751-7456.
