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Former ITD Director Ekern selected
to head Virginia Department of Transportation

From ITD and news sources
Dave Ekern, who retired last month after serving as Director of the Idaho Transportation Department, was named this morning as director of the Virginia Department of Transportation. Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine made the announcement during a 10:30 a.m. (MDT) news conference in Richmond.

"David Ekern is a recognized national leader in transportation operations, management, context sensitive design, and innovative program delivery for the 21st Century," Governor Kaine said at today's news conference. "He has the vision and leadership to take VDOT to the next level - with a focus on performance, accountability, innovation, and smarter integration of transportation and land use
planning."

Ekern, 60, became ITD’s director in 2004 after a 33-year career with the Minnesota Department of Transportation and a special assignment to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) office in Washington, D.C.

Virginia State Sen. R. Edward Houck, D-Spotsylvania, who served on a legislative panel that screened four candidates for the director's job, told the Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch Thursday that he welcomed the selection.

"Dave Ekern showed a great vision that he has for transportation improvements," said Houck. "That he talked about land use and transportation planning complementing each other was a salient point."

Kaine emphasized such linkage during the 2005 election, but it received comparatively little attention during the protracted fight over new, long-term funding for highways and mass transit.

VDOT has operated under an interim director since July 2005 when Philip Shucet resigned, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Published 9-8-06