Who We Are

Director Michael P. Lewis

Director Michael P. LewisMichael P. Lewis joined RIDOT as its Director in 2008, serving as chief steward of the state's $400 million surface transportation program. In recent years, RIDOT has faced extraordinary times, including the completion of several large-scale infrastructure projects such as the Iway which redefined travel through the capital city as well as natural disasters such as the Great Flood of 2010 which resulted in nearly 60 construction projects worth $22 million. It also saw the investment of $170 million in economic recovery funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), making possible 73 highway, transit, and rail projects throughout Rhode Island.

Through careful administration of resources, refinement of planning processes, and exploration of cost-savings measures, RIDOT is positioned to build on its mission of delivering a safe, modern, and efficient intermodal transportation network for the citizens of Rhode Island.

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Director Lewis is chairman of the Rhode Island Public Rail Corporation and a board member of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, the State Planning Council, the State Traffic Commission, and the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority. He is also past-president of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and chairs AASHTO's Standing Committee on Highways.

Director Lewis is a member of both the Executive Committee and SHRP II Oversight Committee of the Transportation Research Board (TRB), as well as serves on the Executive Committee for the Northeast Corridor Commission (NEC).

Diane Bestwick
Assistant to the Director
Phone: (401) 222-2481 Ext. 4001

Deputy Director Phillip Kydd

Deputy Director Phillip KyddPhillip Kydd serves as RIDOT's Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer. Previously, he served as the Assistant Director of Administration, managing key areas within RIDOT such as Contract Administration, Community & Business Resources, Civil Rights, and the Office on Highway Safety.

Since joining the Department in 1986, Deputy Director Kydd has held a number of progressively senior positions and overseen major transportation initiatives that advance economic development and improved quality of life in Rhode Island; for example, the expansion of the state's rail and transit services as well as the relocation of Route 195 and the resulting redevelopment of more than 20 acres of freed-up land.

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Under his leadership, more than $1 billion has been invested in statewide construction contracts and in excess of $5 million in transportation training and research grants. He also has overseen several operational improvements within RIDOT, such as the implementation of asset management, that allow the department to better meet the needs of Rhode Island. In addition, his innovative thinking led to the development of the nation's first lending and training program for minority-owned small businesses working within the transportation industry.

Deputy Director Kydd graduated from the University of Rhode Island and Leadership Rhode Island.

Cynthia Parker
Assistant to the Deputy Director
Phone: (401) 222-2481 Ext. 4003