People on the move: IDOT, DDOT

Gia Biagi has been appointed to lead the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), pending Senate approval, and Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) Interim-Executive Director of Transit Michael Staley will leave his post at the end of the year. 

IDOT 

Biagi brings decades of experience in urban planning, transportation and public policy, including previously serving as commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transportation. Biagi will be taking over for Omer Osman who has announced his retirement from IDOT after 35 years of service to the agency.  

“As my administration continues our ambitious goals to revitalize transportation across the state, I’m excited to appoint Gia Biagi as the next leader of IDOT,” said Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. “Her expansive portfolio and unique leadership experience will undoubtedly propel IDOT’s mission forward and strengthen Illinois’ infrastructure efforts. I would also like to congratulate Secretary Osman on his retirement and thank him for so many years of dedicated service to our state.” 

Osman began his career at IDOT in 1989, working as a civil engineer and proceeded to move into more challenging leadership roles. He eventually transitioned to executive management of the agency, overseeing major projects such as the modernization of Interstate 80 in the Chicago area, the I-57/74 interchange reconstruction in Champaign-Urbana, capacity improvements to I-57 in southern Illinois and a renewed focus on multimodal transportation.  

He was appointed transportation secretary in 2019, where he led the agency through the historic Rebuild Illinois bipartisan infrastructure bill. Osman also championed diversity through all levels of the agency and worked to advocate for minority- and women- owned businesses in partnership with IDOT. 

“There has been no greater honor for me than leading this agency, the finest department of transportation anywhere. I cannot thank Gov. Pritzker enough for the opportunity,” Osman said. “Each day, IDOT keeps Illinois safe and connected while promoting quality of life and creating opportunity. I am extremely proud of our accomplishments, including keeping projects on track during a global pandemic. I look forward to seeing new, exciting ideas and projects under the new secretary and the top-notch IDOT staff.” 

Biagi has also served as principal of urbanism and civic impact at Studio Gang Architects, a Chicago-based architecture and urban design practice, where she advised private and public sector clients on urban design, community engagement and land use planning. 

"I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to work alongside Gov. Pritzker and the State Legislature to help deliver a world-class transportation system for Illinois,” Biagi said. “Investments in our critical infrastructure connect our residents to the places they need to go, create jobs and improve the quality of life in communities in every corner of our state." 

Biagi spent more than 10 years at the Chicago Park District, eventually serving as chief of staff after years of various leadership and urban development strategy roles. 

She brings unique leadership experience as a board member for the Shared-Use Mobility Center, a board trustee of the Chicago Architecture Center, an advisory board member of the Women's Transportation Seminar and a former board member of the National Association of City Transportation Officials. Biagi was recently named a Visiting Fellow at the Clinton School of Public Service at the University of Arkansas. She earned her bachelor’s from the University of Michigan and her master’s from the University of Illinois at Chicago. 

DDOT 

Staley first came to DDOT in June 2022 while the agency dealt with the city’s broken paratransit system showing unreliable service. Staley worked to implement time performance reforms initiating a 97 percent increase in on-time service efficiency. These reforms also brought on an increase in the number of trips performed resulting in a higher customer satisfaction rate. DDOT also saw a 25 percent increase in usage of the paratransit service. DDOT plans to launch on-demand paratransit services in January. 

Following his success with paratransit, Staley was named interim director of DDOT in August of 2023 with a goal of rebuilding DDOT service level and reliability. 

Other highlights from Staley’s tenure as DDOT interim director include: 

• Experienced a growth in ridership to more than 250,000 passengers per week. 
• An increased number of buses in service each day by 20 percent. 
• An additional 150 bus drivers were brought on.  
• He secured a $30 million federal grant to purchase 21 new hybrid coaches and the city’s first four hydrogen fuel cell coaches. 
• He opened the new Jason Hargrove Transit Center at state fairgrounds. The new center is an adaptive reuse of the former State Fair Dairy Cattle Barn and is the first indoor transit center to serve DDOT and SMART transit users on the north side of the city. 

“DDOT is providing better service to its customers today thanks to Michael’s efforts, particularly our most vulnerable residents who rely on our improved paratransit service,” said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. “Work still needs to be done to get our bus service to where it needs to be and Michael has gotten us moving in the right direction. I wish him the very best in his next chapter.” 

Duggan added that he expects to be able to name Staley’s replacement before Christmas. 

Commenting on his time in service to DDOT, Staley stated, “I am grateful for the opportunity provided to me by Mayor Mike Duggan to help transform DDOT. It has been a privilege to serve the citizens of Detroit. I am excited to see the changes that will take place at DDOT over the next 12 months. DDOT will become the public transportation system that our customers expect and deserve.”