Palo Alto hires Mountain View’s transportation director

Mountain View’s transportation manager, Ria Hutabarat Lo, has been hired by Palo Alto as its Chief Transportation Official, replacing Philip Kamhi who stepped down in December.

Hutabarat Lo, 53, of Palo Alto, will start in her new role on June 2 with a salary of $237,000. 

Hutabarat Lo has a Ph.D. in city and regional planning from UC-Berkeley and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in city planning, transportation engineering, and environmental engineering and lives in Palo Alto with her husband and two children.

City Manager Ed Shikada said in a statement that Hutabarat Lo is a 20-year Bay Area transportation veteran. She will lead Palo Alto’s transportation safety and mobility planning, safe routes to school program, and carry out the city’s sustainability goals.

The city said her appointment follows a competitive national recruitment effort launched following the departure of Kahmi. 

“Ria brings a wealth of experience in transportation planning, programs, and engineering that will be instrumental managing our diverse range of transportation initiatives,” said Shikada in a statement. “As a seasoned leader with a genuine appreciation for community engagement and proactive problem solving, I am confident Ria will be successful advancing Palo Alto’s transportation priorities.”   

Hutabarat Lo has served as transportation manager for the City of Mountain View, focused on transportation strategic planning, grant funding, and advancement of Council priorities such as Vision Zero Action Plan, Castro Street pedestrian mall, and expansion of the Safe Routes to School program.

She also worked as Sunnyvale’s transportation manager and was responsible for advancing the design of Caltrain grade separations. Palo Alto says she has previous private sector experience as principal with Nelson/Nygaard Consulting Associates.