City Hall

Former Chicago Transportation Deputy Reportedly Up for SDOT Gig

Former Chicago transportation department deputy director Scott Kubly is reportedly Mayor Ed Murray's pick to head the Seattle Department of Transportation.

By Erica C. Barnett July 1, 2014

As we reported in Fizz this morning, Mayor Ed Murray plans to announce a new director for the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) tomorrow. 

Fizz hears the new director—who'll replace interim director Goran Sparrman—will be Scott Kubly, the former deputy director of Chicago's transportation department under Gabe Klein, a well-known advocate for progressive transportation policy in that city.

Kubly left the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) in December 2013 shortly after Klein resigned as transportation commissioner. According to Streetsblog, Kubly was "central in implementing many of Klein’s progressive transportation initiatives, such as installing 50 miles of buffered and protected bike lanes, installing speed cameras, creating a new bike-share system, and activating underused plazas around the city.  

Previously, under mentor Klein, Kubly managed the District [of Columbia] Department of Transportation's Progressive Transportation Services Administration, overseeing D.C.'s streetcar, Circulator bus, and bikeshare programs.

More recently, Kubly had a contract with Portland-based Alta Bicycle Share, which is rolling out a bike-sharing program in Seattle this year, to help them develop new business. 

We have calls out to Kubly and Murray's office for comment. 

 

 

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