I sat down with Todd O'Brien, the new Grant and Special Projects Manager at the agency to learn more about him and the upcoming plans for our programs.
Todd will be standing up and managing the agency's new local roads program, the new load rating grant program, and taking the lead on the study to update the motor vehicle fuel tax maintenance and replacement calculation factors.
You have spent a significant amount of time in county public works, having served in Adams County as Public Works Director for 25 years. Tell me more about why the field originally appealed to you and about your career background.
I have always enjoyed building things. I actually started in the Adams County Engineering Department as a summer temp straight out of high school in 1987. I began working as an Engineering Tech I in 1990, got my AA from Spokane Falls Community College, and worked my way up to Engineering Technician III, where I oversaw many aspects of operations and contracts.
During several years of leadership changes, I was a consistent "common denominator" at Adams County and was offered the role of Public Works Director in 2000. I became a licensed PE a couple of years later.
How have you been using grant management in your career?
In addition to Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax (MVFT) revenues, counties rely on grants as a funding source for roads and bridges. As the Public Works Director, I had to strategically plan and utilize grants to get projects done, not only for roads, but broadband and other areas. I learned how to be competitive to score the grants my county needed.
What brought you to CRAB?
In 2023, I joined and participated in the steering committee evaluating [CRAB's Rural Arterial] Program that, ultimately, led to the recommendation for a local road program. CRAB is a unique and well-respected agency and I'm excited for the challenge of building a new program from the ground up.
You are on day one of the job. What are your top priorities for the local road program?
My vision is to develop a well-rounded, straightforward program that gets grants to counties ready to move some dirt.
The first big milestones will be writing WAC rules and regulations for the program for the board's review and then taking what has made RAP successful and building an application process. Those applications will help us demonstrate and quantify the need for the program to legislators.
Our goal is for counties to be breaking ground and preserving local roads on July 1, 2027.
Can you share more about your other roles?
Last year, CRAB offered to help Washington stay eligible for federal aid by facilitating required load ratings on county and city bridges by WSDOT's December 2027 deadline. I'll be working with counties, particularly the smaller ones, to get us across the finish line with this one-time program.
The agency will be working in partnership with the Washington State Association of County Engineers (WSACE) on a $300,000 study of MVFT allocation factors this year. Fuel tax is the foundation of all county road departments' budgets, especially rural counties. At Adams County, 80% of our funding came from the MVFT either through direct distributions or grant programs and CRAB wants to ensure the distribution formula, while complex, is as equitable as possible.
Well we are happy to have you join the team. What are you looking forward to in your new role?
I've spent the last quarter century wearing the many hats of a Public Works Director and in one county. I'm excited for the challenge of a new role where I will get to serve all 39 counties and also narrow in and focus on a few key programs. It will be a different and unique opportunity, and certainly comes with a little pressure to find success for local roads!
We are excited to have someone with Todd’s vast knowledge and experience join the team. Welcome aboard, Todd!
