James Bass Chosen as Texas DOT Leader

The Texas Transportation Commission selected James Bass to be the executive director of the state’s Department of Transportation, effective Jan. 1. Bass has been the agency’s chief financial officer since 2005.

The promotion to the top spot caps a steady rise for Bass, who began his TxDOT career in 1985 in Austin and Fort Worth while earning his bachelor's degree from the University of Texas. Bass became TxDOT’s finance division director in 1999 before rising to chief financial officer six years later.

Bass, TxDOT’s 21st executive director, will succeed Joe Weber, who announced his retirement in October after just 18 months on the job. TxDOT maintains 80,000 miles of roads.