In a terse communiqué, Mayor Brandon M. Scott has marked the end of an era at Baltimore's Department of Transportation. Director Corren Johnson, who has been at the helm, will be stepping down from her post immediately, a change announced by the City of Baltimore mayor's office today.
Veobia Akilo will assume the mantle of Interim Director, an announcement that arrives following service as the DOT's Chief Administrative Officer. Hailed as the exemplary Baltimore City Executive of the Year, Akilo's transition to leadership was not unexpected, having already carved a name in city governance. "I am confident that Interim Director Akilo will continue to advance our shared vision for improving the delivery of City services and building a more efficient, equitable Baltimore," Mayor Scott stated, per the city's official release.
The Mayor's office has thus far been silent on the specifics surrounding Johnson's abrupt departure. During her tenure, however, she has undertaken a series of bold strokes, notably advancing the streaming and modernization of the city's traffic signals.
Johnson's tenure was marked by efforts to build the DOT's enforcement capacity. She successfully recruited and onboarded over twenty new traffic enforcement officers. Moreover, she led the march toward harnessing federal resources using the Reconnecting Communities grant program.
