2 Top TxDOT executives leaving agency

Following series of criticisms

Jay Blazek Crossley, Jan 31, 11.

Two top officials at the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) will retire this year following a series of critical reports of the agency and a recent report calling for a shake-up at the top according to the Houston Chronicle.

TXDOT Executive Director Amadeo Saenz Jr. will retire in August - leaving time for the agency to find new leadership - along with deputy executive director Steve Simmons.

The 2009 Texas Sunset Review Commission issued a call for sweeping reform of the agency, including overhauling the texas transportation commission and rethinking the way the leadership of TXDOT works with the legislature and the public, but the 2009 Texas legislature failed to pass a Sunset bill for TXDOT, kicking the issue down the road to the new 2011 legislative session.

In the intervening time, Grant Thornton, an independent accounting firm, released a 628 page management audit (pdf) on the Texas Department of Transportation, critiquing the agency’s culture, effectiveness, and funding. TXDOT reacted to this report by establishing the TXDOT Restructuring Council, which released a recent report (pdf) calling for the shake up of upper management in the agency, saying:

The Grant Thornton report identifies effective leadership as the core issue. The Council agrees. In launching any significant organizational reform, a change of senior leadership is often an essential first step. The Council believes that such action is appropriate in the case of TxDOT. New leadership will be energized and objective in assessing the effectiveness of structural, operational, and policy elements of the organization and will be more willing to change those policies. The Council urges the Commission to commit to a change of senior leadership at TxDOT.

The Texas Legislature will consider the updated Texas Sunset Advisory Commission recommendations (pdf) this session.

Photo: Amadeo Saenz,Jr.