Phoenix City Manager Jeff Barton has named Briiana Velez as Director of the Street Transportation Department, the city announced in a news release.

The promotion followed a nationwide recruitment process and took effect on Monday.

Velez has served the City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department for more than 23 years, most recently holding the position of assistant Street Transportation director since October 2018.

As assistant director, she provided leadership over several key divisions including Traffic Services, Street Maintenance, Design and Construction Management and Management Services, overseeing the department’s $150 million operating budget and $1 billion five-year Capital Improvement Program. Briiana also led the development of important initiatives to make Phoenix roadways safer and more accessible including the Vision Zero Road Safety Action Plan and the Active Transportation Program.

“I am confident that Briiana will continue to deliver excellent service to the residents of Phoenix, while advancing innovative transportation solutions,” Barton stated in the news release. “Her ability to create strong relationships within our community will continue to shape the streets we share every day.”

In her more than two decades in the Street Transportation Department, Velez has progressed from civil engineer to engineering supervisor, deputy director and most recently assistant director.

“Having spent my entire city career in the Street Transportation Department, I’ve seen firsthand the devotion and hard work that goes into making Phoenix’s streets reliable, more efficient and more accessible for everyone,” Velez stated. “I am grateful to now lead this team of passionate and skilled professionals with a strong vision for our future — with community safety as the top priority.”

Velez is a registered professional engineer in Arizona, a certified public manager from Arizona State University and holds a bachelor of science in civil engineering. She is a member of the American Public Works Association and Institute of Transportation Engineers.

Editor's note: The above was republished from a city of Phoenix news release.