Chief Transportation Officer- Houston-Galveston Area Council

Chief Transportation Officer Opportunity

Mackenzie Eason & Associates has been retained by the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) to recruit their next Chief Transportation Officer. Reporting to the Executive Director and working with the Transportation Policy Council (TPC), the new Chief Transportation Officer will lead, develop the vision and long-term plan, and work with the TPC and staff to effectively lead transportation policy and capital projects in the region.

The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) presents a rare and exciting opportunity for an experienced and visionary leader to serve as the Chief Transportation Officer. As the leader of one of the nation's largest and most dynamic Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), you will have the chance to shape the future of transportation for over 7 million residents across an expansive and diverse region.

This role requires a strategic thinker, a collaborative leader, and an innovator capable of addressing the region's unique transportation challenges and opportunities.

H-GAC serves a 12,500-square-mile region, encompassing 13 counties and over 7 million residents. The organization operates as a voluntary planning and problem-solving forum for local governments. It manages regional programs focused on transportation, air quality, economic development, workforce development, community and environmental planning, emergency preparedness, disaster recovery, and more. The MPO housed within H-GAC oversees the planning and programming of billions of dollars in transportation investments annually.

This includes managing the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP), and working closely with stakeholders such as the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), local transit agencies, and the Transportation Policy Council (TPC).

As the federally designated MPO for the eight-county Houston-Galveston metropolitan region, H-GAC is responsible for regional transportation planning. The MPO's primary functions include developing the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), a long-range blueprint for transportation investments, and the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), a short-term plan detailing projects approved for federal funding over the next four years. In addition to thousands of miles of roadways, we are home to some of nation's largest and most active ports, massive petrochemical facilities, substantial rail networks, major airports, and an extensive maritime shipping network.

Our eight counties include:
Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller counties.

H-GAC's MPO has been involved in several significant projects:

• North Houston Highway Improvement Project: A planned reconstruction of Interstate Highway 45 north, between downtown Houston and the North Sam Houston Tollway, estimated to cost over $13 billion. H-GAC, through the MPO, is responsible for programming this project in the TIP as approved by the Transportation Policy Council.
• 2045 Regional Transportation Plan Update:
  An ongoing effort to guide major transportation investments through the year 2045, addressing the needs of over 7.2 million people in the region. The plan includes more than 750 unique projects sponsored by 63 different public entities, with a recommended investment totaling approximately $120 billion.
• Safety Action Plans: H-GAC is developing a regional safety action plan and 11 local safety action plans with a goal to reduce fatalities and serious injuries. These plans align with the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program and the National Roadway Safety Strategy. They also promote the regional and local Vision Zero policies in effect throughout the eight-county metropolitan planning area.

The Transportation Policy Council (TPC) serves as the policy-making body for the MPO, providing guidance and approval for regional transportation plans and programs. It comprises local elected officials, representatives from transportation agencies, and other stakeholders, ensuring that transportation planning aligns with regional priorities and needs. Through these collaborative efforts, H-GAC and its MPO work to enhance mobility, improve air quality, and support economic growth in the Houston-Galveston region.

The Chief Transportation Officer is accountable to the Transportation Policy Council and reports directly to H-GAC's Executive Director. To learn more about the Transportation Policy Council, .

The Opportunity

The Chief Transportation Officer will lead the metropolitan planning and analysis division. The division includes the transportation department, a team of dedicated professionals responsible for planning, funding, and implementing innovative transportation solutions in the Houston-Galveston Metro area. The Chief Transportation Officer also oversees the Data Analytics & Research department, which supports local policymakers and planning programs by providing…