Gibbons Names New State Transportation Director

Nevada Gov.-elect Jim Gibbons (R) today named Susan Martinovich as the state's new transportation director effective Jan. 1. Her appointment follows on the heels of Jeff Fontaine's Dec. 11 announcement that he has accepted a position as executive director of the Nevada Association of Counties, a nonprofit group representing the state's 17 counties.

Fontaine served as director since June 6, 2003, and previously was deputy director from 1995-2003. The department has 1,700 employees and a $674-million annual budget. The agency oversees the maintenance and operation of 5,400 miles of state highway and nearly 1,000 bridges.

But the department currently faces a projected $3.8 billion funding shortfall from 2006-2015 due to booming tourism and population growth that has increased highway use with fewer tax dollars available for new construction. The agency, in order to stay within budget, recently cut its $130-million a year pavement repair and maintenance program by half. The reduction will remain in place until at least 2009. A task force has since recommended raising gas and service taxes as well as license fees to bridge the funding gap.

Susan Martinovich, a 22-year department employee, has served as deputy director and chief engineer since 2003. She is the first female director in department's 89-year history. Martinovich, 45, is a certified civil engineer in Nevada and California. She has served on a number of national transportation committees, including vice-chair of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (ASHTO).