Articles

Keynote Speaker - July 2019

Ricardo Gonzalez, P.E. -  Director of Transporation Planning and Development - TxDOT, Fort Worth

Topic:  TxDOT Fort Worth District Transportation Highlights

Ricardo Gonzalez is the Transportation Planning and Development Director for the Fort Worth District of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

A TxDOT employee since 1995, Gonzalez began his career as a summer hire in the El Paso District's design section and survey crew. After graduating in 1997 from Texas Tech University with his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, he began working in Bridge Design and earned his license as a professional engineer in 2002. Gonzalez then spent the next three years in the Inspection Branch where he coordinated all international bridge inspections with corresponding officials from Mexico.

Gonzalez transferred to the Fort Worth District in 2006 as a construction engineer. In 2009, he was named deputy project construction manager for the $1 billion DFW Connector public-private partnership. In 2011, he was promoted to North Tarrant County area engineer. During that time, he oversaw the $4 billion North Tarrant Express, including the procurement and construction of Interstate 35W, and the successful delivery of the West 7th Street bridge, the world’s first pre-cast network bridge. After being selected as the director of maintenance in 2014, he oversaw a $120 million maintenance program and worked to improve the district’s four-year pavement management plan. Gonzalez was named transportation planning and development director in 2018.

As director of transportation planning and development, Gonzalez oversees the district’s Bridge Design, Bridge Inspection, Central Design, District Design, Public Transportation, Right of Way and Transportation Planning and Development offices. Under Gonzalez’ supervision, the district oversees more than $400 million in awarded contracts each year in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments and our regional partners. In addition, he is currently overseeing the district’s $591 million Texas Clear Lanes congestion relief projects.