District 7 - Divisions - Executive Biographies

SHIRLEY CHOATE
Interim District Director

Shirley Choate was appointed Caltrans District 7 Interim District Director on July 14, 2018. She is responsible for overseeing transportation systems in a dynamic region that boasts 25 percent of California’s population, an annual construction program of more than $2 billion, and some of the most innovative solutions to moving people and goods through southern California. District 7 covers a diverse geography – from metropolitan Los Angeles County to bucolic Ventura County.

Shirley’s direction for meeting the District’s evolving transportation needs include embracing innovation, being efficient and accountable, engaging our partners and challenging the status quo to enhance the region’s livability and economy. She is championing efforts to address litter, graffiti abatement, homelessness services, organizational excellence and employee engagement.

Her 35 year-plus career with Caltrans has spanned three districts and one region. She has spent 18 of those years as the Chief Deputy District Director for District 7 and Deputy District Director for Districts 2 and 7. She was acting Division Chief for Transportation Planning and acting Assistant Division Chief of Construction. Her extensive civil service experience includes the planning, designing and construction of hundreds of transportation projects worth over $4 billion. She oversees more than $475 million in personnel and operating expenses.

She embraces a performance-based approach to significantly improved the delivery of capital outlay commitments.

Back to Executive List