Governor Blagojevich names Milt Sees acting Secretary of Transportation

Accepts resignation of Secretary Timothy W. Martin

CHICAGO – Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today accepted the resignation of Timothy W. Martin, Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) since 2003. The Governor named IDOT’s current Director of Highways, Milt Sees, as acting secretary until the he nominates a permanent secretary.

“I appreciate Tim’s efforts at the Department of Transportation over the past four years. He was instrumental in modernizing and making IDOT more efficient, and focused the agency on better using technology to accomplish its goals. By keeping safety at the forefront of everything that IDOT does, Tim was instrumental in guiding us to making 2006 the safest year on Illinois highways in more than 80 years,” said Gov. Blagojevich.

Under Secretary Martin’s leadership during Gov. Blagojevich’s first term, IDOT has become one of the national leaders in transportation agencies implementing a number of initiatives to increase accountability and safety. In addition to 2006 having the fewest fatalities on our state’s highways since 1924, IDOT became the first state transportation agency in the nation to achieve ISO 9001:2000 certification, international recognition of excellence for the quality of key processes involved in and supporting its road and bridge planning and design work. This has resulted in improved program delivery and full public accountability as well as improved communication, staff development and training within IDOT. In 2006, IDOT reached a record level of program delivery for motorists and other taxpayers, successfully achieving a 97.4 percent rate of accomplishment on the annual program for state road and bridge improvements.

“I want to thank Governor Blagojevich for this opportunity to have served the people of Illinois. Transportation Secretary is a dream job for any engineer that grew up in Illinois, and I appreciate being given the chance to have played a role in shaping IDOT’s future,” Martin said.

Effective immediately, Milt Sees will take over the Secretary’s responsibilities for IDOT. Sees is a licensed, professional engineer and joined IDOT as Director of Highways in 2006. Previously, he served as General Manager of Crisp Container Company, Vice President and General Manager for Southern Illinois Concrete Products Co., Inc., President and Chief Lobbyist for North American Wire Reinforcement Institute, Inc., Executive Director of the Illinois Concrete Pipe Association and Deputy Director and Assistant Chief Engineer for the Capitol City Railroad Relocation Authority. Milt Sees lives with his wife in Springfield.