Jim Westmoreland, Greensboro’s assistant city manager, has been named to replace Roberto Canales as deputy secretary for transit in the state Department of Transportation.
Transportation Secretary Gene Conti said Monday that Westmoreland will take charge of DOT’s public transportation, rail, aviation, bicycle and pedestrian and ferry division, effective March 9, reports Bruce Siceloff.
As Greensboro’s transportation director for 10 years, Westmoreland was responsible for 220 full-time employees and a $40 million budget. He was a state DOT signing and traffic engineer from 1991 to 1996.
Canales, who has held several positions at DOT since 1984, will become Conti’s strategic initiatives coordinator. He has served as manager and spokesman for DOT’s effort to reorganize itself as a more efficient, businesslike and accountable agency.
Canales drew fire from legislative leaders in December after the Federal Transit Administration cited deficiencies in his oversight of federal funding for local transit services across North Carolina. The federal agency froze $25 million in grants for several months until Canales corrected problems at his agency
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