Thursday Thought Leaders - Russell McMurry, State Transportation Commissioner
Navigating the Future of Transportation: Insights from GDOT Commissioner Russell McMurry on Southwest Gwinnett and Beyond
Traffic. Roads. Let's face it, transportation dominates every conversation in Atlanta, particularly here in Southwest Gwinnett. On November 7, we welcome Georgia Department of Transporation (GDOT) Commissioner Russell McMurry talk about exactly that. As the Commissioner of GDOT, Mr. McMurry is responsible for implementing the department's strategic plans and transportation improvements across the state. He will speak specifically about the current status of the infrastructure in Southwest Gwinnett and, more broadly, about transportation challenges and opportunities in the Northern Atlanta metro. We will also hear about strategic infrastructure investments within our community that will impact our commutes, our access to services, and our local economy. Join us to understand the logistical advantages present in Southwest Gwinnett and how GDOT's goals and priorities will impact our community.
About Russll McMurry
Russell R. McMurry, P.E., serves as commissioner for the Georgia Department of Transportation, the state agency responsible for the nation’s 10th largest state transportation system, with an operating budget of over $4 billion and a staff of nearly 3,900. Commissioner McMurry began his career with the department in 1990 as an engineering intern working in construction; he served in a variety of roles prior to being named chief engineer. He was then appointed by Governor Nathan Deal as the department’s planning director before being appointed as commissioner by unanimous vote of the State Transportation Board in 2015.
McMurry currently serves as treasurer of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) as well as chair of the Council on Highways and Streets and a member of the Strategic Management Committee; he is a board member of several other national organizations such as the National Academy of the Science, Transportation Research Board, and ITS America in addition to several state organizations; such as a board member for the Atlanta Transit Link Authority (ATL), Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA), the State Depository Board and the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund. He is also a member of the College of Engineering & Information Technology (CEIT) Corporate Advisory Committee at Georgia Southern University as well as the University of Georgia College of Engineering Advisory Board.
McMurry has received numerous accolades and recognitions, including being named Georgia Trend’s 2018 Georgian of the Year, and is consistently included in its list of the 100 Most Influential Georgians. He was also named one of Atlanta’s most powerful leaders in Atlanta Magazine’s “Atlanta 500” and named as one of James Magazine’s Most Influential Georgians. McMurry graduated cum laude from Georgia Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering technology and is a registered professional engineer in the state of Georgia.
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