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Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) Director Chris Conklin was named the 2026 Outstanding Leader by the Transportation Association of Maryland (TAM) at a ceremony held on Wednesday, Sept. 23. TAM is a statewide membership association of transportation professionals dedicated to improving the mobility of all Maryland citizens. TAM’s annual awards ceremony recognizes excellence in the state’s public and community transportation industries.
“As director of MCDOT, Chris has established a clear strategic vision centered on safety, customer service, operational excellence, and sustainable mobility,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Under his leadership, MCDOT has become a nationally recognized transportation agency that is trusted by its employees, respected by its partners, and delivers safe, reliable transportation to our County’s more than one million residents every day. I want to congratulate Chris on this well-deserved award.”
Conklin has served as director of MCDOT since 2019. Conklin is responsible for all Montgomery County transportation capital projects and operations, including highway maintenance, traffic operations, streetlighting, transit operations, public parking facilities, and a multibillion-dollar capital program.
“Chris has built a customer-first culture throughout MCDOT,” said MCDOT Transit Services Division Chief Phil McLaughlin. “He routinely rides Ride On and Flash buses, visits construction projects, and meets directly with riders, operators, business owners, and residents to hear their concerns firsthand. Chris leads by example through a rare combination of humility and strategic vision. He takes the time to work alongside employees, personally test new bus routes, and experience transportation services from the perspective of both staff and the community we serve.”
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Upon joining the County, Conklin was instrumental in the early stages of MCDOT’s direct federal funding program for transit. Conklin has represented the County in regional transportation planning, greenhouse gas reduction plans, and served on efforts in 2017 and 2025 to secure long-term funding for WMATA.
“Chris has demonstrated extraordinary financial stewardship by dramatically expanding MCDOT’s funding portfolio,” said MCDOT Deputy Director Emil Wolanin. “Through strategic partnerships with federal and state agencies, he established Montgomery County’s direct federal transit funding program and helped grow transportation grant revenue to approximately $750 million over five years. He also led regional negotiations that secured $93 million in COVID relief funding for Montgomery County transit while increasing funding for transit agencies throughout the region.”
During his tenure at MCDOT, Conklin has overseen many County and regional projects including the construction of the new headquarters for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, realignment of major roads in North Bethesda, construction of a new entrance to the Medical Center Metro Station, coordinating the County’s participation in the Purple Line, and implementation of Bus Rapid Transit. He has also played a critical role in several notable private redevelopment projects including the Marriott International Headquarters in Bethesda, the United Therapeutics campus in Silver Spring, the Lakeforest Mall redevelopment in Gaithersburg, and Pike & Rose and the WMATA property redevelopment in North Bethesda.
“Chris pairs his technical knowledge with proven management expertise, effectively guiding teams, aligning resources, and fostering a culture of accountability that consistently delivers complex, high-quality projects on schedule,” said Maricela Cordova, MCDOT Special Assistant to the Director. “Under his leadership, the department has successfully executed these critical transportation initiatives while continuously improving organizational performance and workforce development.”
Conklin is also active with the County’s Vision Zero safety program, overseeing implementation of pedestrian, bicycle, and traffic safety projects like protected bikeways, improved street crossings, sidewalks, speed reduction measures, and traffic controls. The Vision Zero program is based on a safe systems approach and has yielded a 38% reduction in serious and fatal collisions on High Injury Networks, where most serious collisions occur.
“Chris’ level-headedness and calm demeanor help keep us grounded,” said Emily DeTitta, MCDOT strategic communications manager. “He drives success by investing in people, trusting them to lead, and strategically leveraging their unique strengths. By setting clear expectations and maintaining a steady focus, he provides the stability our team needs to thrive.”
Conklin holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and two master’s degrees in transportation and technology policy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a licensed professional engineer in Maryland and Massachusetts.
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“It is an honor to serve the residents of Montgomery County,” said Conklin. “I want to thank the more than 1,200 MCDOT employees who deliver for our residents and businesses every day. We work together to provide reliable transportation options and sound infrastructure that improve access to jobs, education, and services for all our residents, while also acting as responsible stewards of our natural environment and community resources. Together, we are expanding our Ride On bus service, building bike and pedestrian pathways, redesigning roadways to prioritize safety, and investing in sustainable transportation solutions. I am proud of our results, and I want to thank TAM for their recognition of the impact we are having.”
TAM’s annual awards ceremony took place Wednesday, Sept. 23, in Stevensville, honoring organizations and individuals in the following categories: Outstanding Transit System Achievement, Outstanding Non-profit Agency, Driver of the Year, Outstanding Leadership, Rising Star Award, Outstanding Transit Innovation Program, which was also awarded to MCDOT for the Ride On extRa service between Shady Grove Metro Station and the Universities at Shady Grove, and Fleet Safety Champion.
For information on MCDOT programs and services, visit montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, follow @MCDOTNow on X, Bluesky, Instagram, and Facebook, and subscribe to MCDOT’s “Go Montgomery!” newsletter.
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Read the original article at mcdot
