California Gov. Jerry Brown recently appointed Laurie Berman as director for the Department of Transportation (Caltrans).
She replaces Malcolm Dougherty who is leaving Caltrans after 26 years for a private sector position.
Berman has been acting chief deputy director since October and will assume her new role March 3.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead an agency that has a major impact to those who live, visit and do business in the state of California,” Berman said. “Transportation plays a vital role in the state’s economy and livability for every Californian, and I look forward to building on the great progress this department has made over the last several years.”
Berman has been employed by Caltrans for 35 years. She served as district director in the San Diego region during major projects including improving mobility along the California / Mexico Border, the construction of publicly/privately funded State Route 125 and groundbreaking on the I-5 north coast corridor.
Caltrans is an $8.5 billion agency that employs nearly 20,000 people.
The agency soon will begin work on plans developed in the Road Repair and Accountability Act, which invests $54 billion over the next 10 years on state bridges, freeways, and roads.