Louisiana Secretary of Transportation and Development Shawn Wilson is set to retire March 4, fueling speculation that he may soon enter the race for governor, with the state election in October.
Current Gov. John Bel Edwards (D), who is not running for another term, has yet to name a successor to Wilson.
Appointed to the post in January 2016 by Edwards, Wilson has overseen nearly $5.5 billion in infrastructure investments, spanning more than 2,230 projects and nearly 7,000 miles of roadway improvements, according to a department statement. Major projects include multiple significant upgrades along Louisiana's Interstate corridors, including a $125.6-million interchange to serve a newly constructed shipping terminal in Kenner and $300 million in upgrades to bridges across the state.
In addition to establishing an innovative procurement office within the agency, Wilson successfully found federal funding to launch or complete long-stalled projects. These include the final $135-million phase of the 18-mile LA 1 elevated highway from Golden Meadow to Port Fourchon, and the Comite River Diversion Project, which includes construction of a 12-mile $353-million diversion channel as well as guide levees and other structures.
Wilson recently joined U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to announce plans to replace the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge, using a $150-million federal “mega" grant funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Edwards praised Wilson as “the most effective DOTD secretary in state history.” He added that “despite tremendous challenges with state revenue, devastating hurricanes and the unprecedented impacts of COVID-19 on our workforce and supply chain, Shawn has tackled important infrastructure projects that were previously only talked and dreamed about for decades.”
Listen: Shawn Wilson Talks Infrastructure and Equity on ENR's Critical Path Podcast
“Ensuring Louisiana’s infrastructure system is safe and reliable has been my goal for the last 16 years of my life and it was an all-consuming effort,” Wilson said in the department statement. “Now, I have new adventures and goals ahead and it is time to make a life-changing move.”
As to whether those plans include a push to succeed the term-limited Edwards in November, Wilson told Baton Rouge television station WBRZ in January that “we’re giving it some thought, but it’s too early to tell.” He added that polls indicated he was probably the most viable Democratic candidate.
Prior to becoming Secretary, Wilson served his two immediate predecessors as chief of staff, and as confidential advisor to a third. He was 2020-2021 president of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the first African-American in the post, and chairs the Transportation Research Board executive committee.
AASHTO Executive Director Jim Tymon lauds Wilson for his accomplishments as the organization’s president, from fostering a culture that promoted transportation equity and a more diverse range of perspectives to leading AASHTO and its members through the first year of implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
“We’re a stronger organization because of him, as are the communities in and around Louisiana that have experienced his leadership during his time as DOTD secretary,” Tymon adds.
