Oakland DOT Director Josh Rowan Replaced; Megan Wier Named Interim Head
Josh Rowan has been replaced as the Director of Oakland's Department of Transportation (OakDOT), with Megan Wier appointed as the interim head. This change occurred shortly after Mayor Barbara Lee's press conference and follows Rowan's tenure, during which he led…
San Francisco Oakland San Jose, CA, November 9, 2026 — Oakland, CA – Josh Rowan has been removed from his position as the Director of the City of Oakland’s Department of Transportation (OakDOT). Megan Wier has been appointed as the interim head of the department, effective immediately.
The leadership transition at OakDOT took place shortly after a press conference held by Mayor Barbara Lee. The change marks the end of Rowan’s tenure leading the department, during which he oversaw various infrastructure initiatives.
During his time as Director, Rowan was involved in the leadership of significant infrastructure projects aimed at improving city mobility and safety. These projects included the expansion of dedicated bike lanes across Oakland and extensive road paving efforts throughout the city. Rowan’s leadership also involved navigating complex community concerns and managing internal disputes within city hall, according to the provided summary.
Specific details regarding the timeline of Rowan’s tenure, the exact nature of the community concerns, or the specifics of the internal city hall disputes were not provided in the trend summary. Similarly, the precise reasons for the change in leadership were not disclosed.
Megan Wier’s appointment as interim director positions her to guide OakDOT as the city determines its permanent leadership for the department. Further details regarding the department’s future direction and leadership will be made public as they become available.
Story summarized from the original created by Elize Manoukian on ww2.kqed.org, see more information here.
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