Mr. de la Vega is responsible for leading the department as well as day-to-day operations. LADOT is a multifaceted transportation organization with over 1,700 employees and an annual budget of US$493 million (FY 2012-2013). LADOT enforces state and local parking laws; provides traffic control services to support public safety agencies and special events; designs, operates, and maintains the most advanced traffic signal system in the U.S.; operates the second largest bus service in Los Angeles County; supports private development and public works projects, including major new transit lines, through traffic management plans and review and approval of signal and striping plans; maintains the city’s traffic signal system, road markings, and regulatory signage; implements the city’s bicycle plan; operates the city’s over 39,000 on-street parking meters and 118 off-street parking facilities; and regulates taxis, ambulances, and pipelines in the city. LADOT’s FY 2011-12 annual report can be found at: http://www.ladot.lacity.org/pdf/PDF267.pdf.

Mr. de la Vega is also a voting alternate on the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink) Board of Directors representing the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Metrolink oversees a five-county commuter rail system operating seven lines and 512 route miles, with an annual budget of US$568 million (FY 2012-2013).

Prior to accepting his current position, Mr. de la Vega served as Deputy Mayor for Transportation for Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa from 2005-2011. He was responsible for developing and implementing Mayor Villaraigosa’s transportation agenda at the MTA, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), with a combined budget of over US$8.3 billion (FY 2010- 2011). He led signature transportation initiatives for the mayor, including the successful 2008 Measure R half-cent transportation sales tax as well as the 30/10 initiative and America Fast Forward.

Prior to serving as a deputy mayor, Mr. de la Vega served as Budget Director for Los Angeles City Attorney Rockard J. Delgadillo from 2002-2005. He also was Assistant Deputy Mayor and senior policy adviser to Los Angeles Mayor Richard J. Riordan from 1995-2001 as well as a member of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors from 1999-2001 and as Mayor Riordan’s voting alternate in 1997. Mr. de la Vega was an independent management consultant serving various public sector clients in the Los Angeles area, including the Office of the Mayor, from 1993-1995 and 2001-2002.

Mr. de la Vega holds a Master of Arts in Urban Planning from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies, summa cum laude, from California State University at Northridge (CSUN).

Mr. de la Vega lives in Woodland Hills in the San Fernando Valley in the City of Los Angeles. He is married and has three daughters.