Press Releases - Department of Transportation

For Immediate Release: Monday, November 18, 2019


Tribute Attendees thank Roshdieh for his 30 years of service	Deputy Director Emil Wolanin MC'd the event

Following a 30-year career with the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and nearly five years as the department’s director, Al Roshdieh retired on November 1. Attending a tribute to Roshdieh were people from throughout Montgomery County, including County Executive Marc Elrich.

County Executive Elrich honors Roshdieh

“I have reluctantly accepted Director Roshdieh’s resignation knowing that Montgomery County would be losing an exceptional, results-oriented senior executive whom I have come to rely on for his innovation, extensive knowledge and experience,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “Al Roshdieh has led the effort to create a more sustainable and balanced transportation system in Montgomery County. He has demonstrated professional excellence and outstanding service, both locally and nationally, and leaves the department and County having greatly expanded mobility options that are improving our residents’ quality of life. Al Roshdieh reinvigorated the senior management team and the department’s culture and reshaped DOT’s public engagement. I congratulate Al on his retirement and look forward to building on his legacy with the new Director Chris Conklin.”

Under Roshdieh’s leadership, Montgomery County’s innovation received regional and national recognition. Just a handful of his ‘first’ accomplishments include: implementation of the US 29 FLASH, the first project resulting from Montgomery County’s bus rapid transit program and the first project of its kind in Maryland; roll-out of the Ride On Extra limited stop and transit priority bus service along Maryland 355; launch of the Ride On FLEX, an app-based, on-demand transit service in Rockville and Wheaton-Glenmont; procurement of the County’s first electric transit buses; introduction of Capital Bikeshare and dockless e-bikes and e-scooters; implementation of the County’s first protected bike lanes and protected intersections; advancement of Vision Zero through installation of HAWK pedestrian-activated signals and floating bus stops; and easing congestion through deployment of adaptive traffic signal technology.

In addition to overseeing the largest push in the County’s history to restore our bridges and roads to a state of good repair, Roshdieh has been a champion of the environment. He authored MCDOT’s first Sustainability Policy and spearheaded efforts to replace streetlights and traffic signals with more environmentally friendly LED fixtures. Roshdieh also advanced MCDOT’s programs to improve the sustainability of transportation infrastructure by installing charging stations and bike racks throughout the County parking system and in urban districts. Roshdieh has been a champion of smart growth principles and has advanced projects to improve walkability and bike-friendly environments around the County’s Metro stations and other appropriate locations. To further support smart growth, Roshdieh has been a champion of public-private partnerships spearheading the Wheaton Revitalization Project, Studio Plaza in Silver Spring, United Therapeutics headquarters in Silver Spring, the Capital Crescent garage in Bethesda and the Galaxy project in Silver Spring.

Marking 30 years of service

Roshdieh became MCDOT director in December 2014. Roshdieh previously served as Deputy Director of MCDOT and its predecessor, the Department of Public Works and Transportation. Roshdieh rose through the ranks of the transportation department, starting as a senior engineer/project manager, and then becoming a division chief of Facilities Maintenance and Operations; Facilities and Services; and Operations.

Roshdieh graduated from the University of Maryland with a BS in Electrical Engineering. He received three US patents for designs and inventions. He also served as Product Development Vice President for Motector Systems, Inc. in Fairfax, Virginia.

“I am so proud to have helped expand mobility options and improve quality of life for the residents of Montgomery County,” said Roshdieh. “By instilling a culture of ‘yes’ in the department, we have made the community a partner in producing lasting change and creating the best transportation network possible. There is always more to be done, but I am confident that MCDOT is now on the right path to expand innovative, multimodal transportation choices that will bring greater economic progress and shared prosperity to our wonderful County.”