WILMINGTON, DELAWARE (1/5/2015) Shailen Bhatt, secretary of the Delaware Department of Transportation for the past three and a half years, is leaving for a position in Colorado’s transportation department, Gov. Jack Markell announced this morning.
“Shailen has done an excellent job enhancing the state’s transportation network while earning the respect of his colleagues and the trust of our citizens,” Markell said. “The agency faced numerous challenges over the past several years, including the need to address a significant debt load and respond to severe weather events, but under his leadership DelDOT tackled those challenges with dedication and professionalism.”
Bhatt was appointed by Markell in 2010. Earlier he served in several leadership roles throughout the country, including Associate Administrator at the Federal Highway Administration in Washington, D.C., Deputy Executive Director with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, and Director of the Bowling Green/Warren County Metropolitan Planning Organization.
“Throughout my career I‘ve tried to go where I felt I could do the most good, looking for opportunities to make meaningful contributions as a public servant,” said Bhatt in a written statement. “I appreciate the opportunity Governor Markell gave me and I will always treasure the time I’ve spent in Delaware. It’s been an honor to lead Team DelDOT. I’m very proud of the people I served with and appreciate their unwavering support and enthusiastic commitment towards improving Delaware’s transportation system.”
Bhatt was nominated by Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper to serve as executive director of the state’s transportation department. He will leave DelDOT at the end of January.