ODOT Director Stepping Down

Director Strickler led ODOT through numerous major events including the 2020 Labor Day wildfires, COVID and the transportation funding crisis. The funding crisis threatened to severely reduce everyday maintenance services for Oregonians. In September, the Oregon Legislature convened in a special session and successfully voted to provide new funding for road maintenance and transit services. Governor Kotek signed that bill. That action staved off hundreds of layoffs at ODOT and other jurisdictions.

“The decision to leave ODOT did not come easily to me, but with funding for the maintenance and operations of our transportation system secured, now is the time for new leadership to lead ODOT’s next chapter,” said Director Strickler. “The employees of ODOT are dedicated to improving the lives of Oregonians and because of that commitment, I know ODOT will continue to thrive.”

Strickler has led the 4,500-person agency since fall 2019. Before becoming ODOT director, he served as the Southwest Region Administrator for the Washington State Department of Transportation, the Oregon Project Director for the Columbia River Crossing and most recently as ODOT’s Highway Division Administrator.

“A dedicated leader who has not shied away from embracing challenges, Kris is one of the longest tenured directors in the history of the agency,” said Governor Kotek. “I’m grateful for his years of service and his unrelenting focus on making sure Oregonians can keep moving, safely, sustainably, and without delay. Likewise, I am grateful to Interim Director Lisa Sumption for stepping up to take the reins as we embark on a nationwide search and to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission for their willingness to assist ODOT in this time of transition.”

ODOT under Strickler implemented a multimodal approach to transportation that resulted in improvements across the state and increased options for people driving, walking, biking and taking transit.

That work includes the construction of highway projects such as:

• Improving safety in the Bend North Corridor project on Highway 97 in Bend.

• Adding auxiliary lanes to OR 217 in Washington County, reducing congestion and crashes.

• Constructing the Mitchell Point Tunnel in the Gorge, restoring a historic treasure and increasing multimodal tourism.

• Rebuilding the Hooskanaden Slide area of 101 north of Brookings.

• Beginning the much needed Aurora-Donald interchange and Kuebler to Delaney projects on I-5.

• Implementing safety improvements on Cabbage Hill between Pendleton and La Grande.

• Improving numerous legacy highways in Portland and across the state to make these main streets safer for all travelers including funding major improvements to 82nd Avenue, the transformation of Outer Powell Boulevard, improvements to Lombard Street, and significant upgrades to main streets in Philomath, Halsey and many others.

Beyond those projects, since 2019, the agency has:

• Provided more access for customers at DMV by adding kiosks and expanded online services to complete DMV transactions without a trip to the DMV, all while providing additional services for Real ID.

• Streamlined permitting by implementing the new ORION system for freight customers.

• Led an unprecedented cleanup effort following the devastating 2020 Labor Day wildfires that involved cleaning up 120 miles of highway corridors and over 3,000 private properties.

• Created the agency’s first State of the Agency Dashboard to track progress and performance.

• Expanded transit availability and reliability and achieved record ridership on Amtrak Cascades.

• Began development of a Capital Investment Plan that will provide long-term stability in project delivery.

• Provided more safe and easy ways to bike, walk and roll across Oregon through the agency’s expanded Safe Routes to School, Oregon Community Paths and other multimodal programs.

• Began construction on the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Program, and secured billions in federal grants to advance work on the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program.

“As the second longest serving director in ODOT’s history, Kris helped guide ODOT through multiple statewide natural disasters and tackled longstanding issues facing transportation including unprecedented inflation that continues to drive up costs and a structural revenue issue impacting the maintenance of our state and local transportation system,” said Julie Brown, Chair of the Oregon Transportation Commission. “Kris led ODOT to make positive contributions to all modes of transportation in our state, and because of his efforts, Oregonians can now count on a well-maintained transportation system this winter and into the future.

“The commission looks forward to working with Governor Kotek to identify a permanent director in the coming months,” Brown added.

Sumption has been serving as the Director of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department since 2014, concurrently holding the position of Oregon’s State Historic Preservation Officer. With a tenure of over 25 years in public service, Sumption is one of the longest-serving agency directors on the Governor’s Enterprise Leadership team. She oversees the vast Oregon state park system comprising over 113,000 acres and 254 recreational, scenic, cultural, and historical sites with 53 overnight campgrounds. In addition to managing a biennial budget of $400 million and leading a team of approximately 900 employees, Sumption has also served on the National Parks Service Advisory Board and chaired the Tourism Committee. She also serves as the past President of the National Association of State Park Directors.

Liz Hill, Chair of the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission, said: “In Lisa’s absence, we have asked Stefanie Coons, our current Deputy Director of Business Administration, to step in as Interim Director of OPRD. We are confident in Stefanie’s leadership abilities, as well as the strong team Lisa has built. They will continue advancing the important work of the agency during her time away.”