Oakland, CA – Oakland City Administrator Ed Reiskin today announced the appointment of Fred Kelley as the new Director of the Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT).
For the past two years, Mr. Kelley has served as OakDOT’s Assistant Director, leading six operating divisions staffed by 375 engineers, planners, and maintenance staff. As Assistant Director, Mr. Kelley played a critical role both leading and supporting OakDOT staff and ensuring high quality, equitable service delivery to our community.
“I am delighted to welcome Fred as the newest member of the City’s executive leadership team,” said City Administrator Ed Reiskin. “A seasoned and experienced leader, Fred brings a positive, solution-oriented attitude to his work. I am confident that he will drive strong team performance and continued momentum to achieving OakDOT’s mission of delivering quality service through an equity lens to ensure our historically underserved neighborhoods receive the service and safety they deserve.”
Born in San Francisco and raised in Kansas City, Mr. Kelley has established a proven track record as a successful leader, problem-solver, and consensus builder. His 25+ years’ experience in the transportation engineering/planning arena has focused on the planning, design, and implementation of complex, multi-modal infrastructure plans and projects in the Bay Area. These projects have centered on accessibility, safety, and equity.
Mr. Kelley’s public-sector experience spans both local government and regional planning agencies, where developing collaborative partnerships and consensus with community and elected officials was vital to the success of the agencies’ long-term vision. Prior to the City of Oakland, Mr. Kelley served as Transportation Division Manager for the City of Hayward.
“I am humbled and honored to serve as OakDOT’s next director, and stand committed to the lead with the values articulated in its strategic plan: equity, safety, sustainability, and trust,” said Mr. Kelley. “Over the past five years, OakDOT has established internationally acclaimed, data-driven programs that have delivered much-needed services to historically marginalized neighborhoods. Looking forward, I am committed to addressing unacceptable increases in traffic violence and quality of life issues that negatively impact the daily lives of Oaklanders. I have big shoes to fill and thank Ryan Russo for handing off the baton after leaving an amazing legacy.”
Mr. Kelley’s undergraduate and graduate background encompasses political science, public policy, and engineering. He recently became a cohort of the Bloomberg/Harvard City Leadership Initiative Program.
