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IDOT Blog – Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Employee Spotlight Jason Osborn, Director, Office of Intermodal Project Implementation
Jason Osborn is the new director of the Office of Intermodal Project Implementation. While he’s new to IDOT, he’s not new to transportation.
Osborn has more than 20 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, along with an advanced degree in urban and regional planning. He comes to the department from Metra, where he led System Performance and Data.
Q. What does your job entail?
Listening and making sure the teams have the support needed for success. Working with the other offices throughout the department to help meet the needs of multiple modes of transportation.
Q. Anything to highlight that you plan to do at IDOT?
Efficiently manage the flow of needed funds and monitor the most effective use of those limited funds. Support aviation, transit, passenger rail and railroad planning throughout the state.
Q. Anything to tell us about your department?
The state is involved in many aviation, passenger rail, railroad, and transit projects and programs. The office undertakes planning, funding, project implementation, safety inspections and safety oversight across the state, such as:
- Managing the Saluki, Lincoln and Quincy passenger rail services
- Putting new Amtrak railcars into service
- Working with railroads to implement the CREATE program
- Overseeing the design and construction of runway extensions and inspecting them regularly after they’re built
- Administering state and federal funding for airports
- Certifying private airports
- Administering state and federal funding for transit throughout the state
- Supporting intercity bus, light rail and bus rapid transit
- Providing safety oversight to help prevent accidents on Chicago Transit Authority and MetroLink trains
Q. Can you tell us a little bit about your work background?
As a planner for the engineering consultant firm Wilbur Smith, now CDM Smith, I planned and programmed for McHenry County. I was also the department head for System Performance and Data at Metra. I have two degrees from the University of Iowa and one from Northwestern University.
Q. How has your previous experience prepared you to take on your role at IDOT?
I’ve been working with the public, planners and engineers to improve transportation for over 20 years. Along the way, I’ve met many challenges with a wide range of team structures. I enjoy seeing how individual efforts add up to changing the big picture.
Q. What do you like to do outside the office?
Fishing, beekeeping and making the kids laugh with bad dad jokes.
Q. Anything else you’d like people to know about you?
I secretly miss Godfather’s Pizza and am excited to see it’s in Springfield.