Randall Morrison will oversee the 140-person Capital Projects Department for the City of Fresno. Photo contributed

A Fresno City Hall veteran has been selected to lead the newly formed Capital Projects Department.

Randall Morrison will oversee a total of 140 positions within the new department, tasked with overseeing major infrastructure projects fueled by more than $330 million headed for the City of Fresno.

Morrison is currently the assistant director of public works, a title he has held since 2017. He’s been with the City of Fresno since 2004 as an engineer and project manager, according to a City of Fresno news release. He’s managed capital improvement projects for several city departments, including parks, police and fire. He was part of the team behind the Veterans Boulevard SR 99 Interchange and Extension and the Fulton Street Reconstruction Project.

He is expected to “set the tone for expedient and professional project development,” stated City Manager Georgeanne White.

“The City of Fresno is on the move, and it’s vital that our project development keeps up with that pace,” stated Mayor Jerry Dyer. “With hundreds of capital projects in process, $250 million from the State of California for infrastructure improvements to Downtown Fresno, and $80 million dedicated to the Blackstone and McKinley Grade Separation Project, prioritizing capital projects is key. I’m excited to see Randall take this important and prominent position that will help shape the future of our great city.”

The goal of the Capital Project Department is to complete projects in a timely matter and within budget, according to the release. It will guide hundreds of capital projects through the design, environmental, right-of-way and construction phases for parks, public safety facilities, street infrastructure, active transportation, wastewater and water systems. The City has hundreds of capital projects in process between the Department of Public Works and the Department of Public Utilities.

To staff the new department, the city will add 46 new positions, transfer 74 positions from the Department of Public Works and 20 positions from the Department of Public Utilities for a total of 140 positions.

A management team has been selected to assist Morrison. Assistant Director Scott Sehm will oversee the design services division. Transportation project management will be led by Assistant Director Jesus Avitia. Utilities and on-site project management will be handled by Assistant Director Francisco Magos. The construction management division will be under the leadership of Assistant Director Bill Herr. The city is currently seeking an assistant director to lead the capital administration division.

Morrison graduated from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, with a master’s degree in civil engineering and an emphasis in transportation engineering. He will begin his new role on July 31.