Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll Announces Matthew Smith as City’s First Director of Traffic & Parking
Mayor Kim Driscoll today announced that she has appointed Matthew O. Smith, a Salem resident and long-time urban and transportation planner, to serve as the City’s first Director of Traffic and Parking.
Smith, who currently volunteers as a member of the Salem Redevelopment Authority board, brings extensive experience in urban planning to the new position, having worked in both the public and private sector on transportation projects, community planning, and economic development initiatives. He also brings an understanding of the specific challenges, needs, and opportunities in the City of Salem.
Smith holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and a Master of Urban Planning degree from Hunter College of the City University of New York. He comes to the City from the firm AKRF where, as a Technical Director, he worked closely with municipalities, state agencies, and private sector clients on transportation initiatives, redevelopment planning, economic analyses, and environmental assessments. In that work he analyzed the connectivity, parking, land use, and economic impacts associated with the projects and municipalities. Prior to his time at AKRF he had been the Senior Economic Development Planner for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, where he managed numerous community and economic planning initiatives in the region, including the Salem Point Neighborhood Market Study.
“I believe that Mr. Smith will be a thoughtful and highly competent Director of Traffic and Parking,” said Mayor Driscoll. “He has the skills and expertise to help advise the new Traffic and Parking Commission, to set up the processes and systems necessary to establishing the new regulations in partnership with the City Council, and the background to be able to oversee the implementation and updating of important City traffic policies like our Complete Streets Policy, our Residential Traffic Calming Program, and our Comprehensive Parking Plan, among others. I’m excited for him to start work in mid-November and welcome him aboard our team.”
“I am excited and honored to join the City of Salem as its Director of Traffic and Parking,” said Smith. “As an urban planner and Salem resident, I understand and experience many of the City’s transportation and parking challenges from both a professional and personal perspective. An efficient, connected transportation network for all users – pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers and transit riders – is crucial to our quality of life and our City’s economic future. I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and working with Salem residents, businesses, City staff and elected officials to identify and implement realistic transportation and parking strategies that will make Salem the most connected, accessible, and safe community possible.”