The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission last week announced the resignation of Pete Rahn as head of the Missouri Department of Transportation.
“It’s with a very heavy heart that we have accepted Pete’s resignation,” said Rudy Farber, chairman of the commission. “His innovative and highly effective leadership was exactly what was needed to handle the challenges MoDOT faced when he became director.’
The highways commission said it would soon name an interim director and undertake a national search for a replacement.
Rahn had served in the post of director since 2004.
He is leaving to become a senior president at Kansas City-based engineering firm HNTB in a new position leading its national transportation practice. The company has previously done work for the Missouri Department of Transportation.
“MoDOT is a tremendous organization filled with talented and dedicated employees,” Rahn said. “I feel very fortunate I have been allowed to associate with these exceptional people.”
The commission earlier this year sold $185 million of Garvee bonds to complete the financing of its Safe and Sound bridge program and to fund its share of a new span across the Mississippi River.
The deal marked the agency’s last financing until a new revenue stream is identified to finance transportation projects.
Rahn recently announced deep budget cuts due to dwindling revenue and concerns over future federal funding.
