The Maryland Department of Transportation recently appointed new leaders for its State Highway Administration or SHA and the Maryland Transportation Authority or MDTA divisions.
[Above photo by the Maryland DOT]
First, William Pines will now serve as SHA’s administrator after serving 11 years at the MDTA – which is responsible for constructing, managing, operating, and improving the state’s toll facilities – most recently as MDTA’s executive director.
He is returning to where he started his transportation career as a design engineer with SHA in 2004.
Pines will now oversee an agency that operates, maintains and rebuilds the numbered, non-toll routes in Maryland’s 23 counties with more than 17,000 lane-miles and 2,500 bridges.
Pines replaces Tim Smith, who served in many roles during his 24-tenure with the SHA, including district engineer, deputy administrator for operations and, ultimately, as administrator
“I want to thank Tim Smith for his years of service with the SHA,” said Maryland DOT Secretary Paul Wiedefeld in a statement.
“He steered us through COVID while delivering a vast construction program and led a strong focus on worker and pedestrian safety,” Widenfled added. “I also want to thank Tim for his commitment to provide a smooth transition in the coming weeks.”
Stepping into the role of MDTA executive director to replace Pines is Joseph “Joey” Sagal, who most recently served as MDTA’s chief operating officer.
His 1,800-employee agency operates and maintains the state’s eight toll facilities as well as Maryland’s DriveEzMD digital tolling system.
Sagal has served with the Maryland DOT and the Federal Highway Administration for 25 years in total. Prior to his service as MDTA’s chief operating officer, he took on many operational leadership roles at SHA, most recently as deputy administrator/chief engineer for operations.
Both Pines and Sagal will begin serving in their new roles effective immediately, Maryland DOT noted.