City Manager Ed Shikada announced today the appointment of Ria Hutabarat Lo as the City’s Chief Transportation Official. Hutabarat Lo is a 20-year Bay Area transportation veteran, most recently with the City of Mountain View. Hutabarat Lo will lead Palo Alto’s transportation safety and mobility planning, safe routes to school, and sustainability goals. Her appointment follows a competitive national recruitment effort launched following the departure of Philip Kahmi, the City’s previous Chief Transportation Official.
“Ria brings a wealth of experience in transportation planning, programs, and engineering that will be instrumental managing our diverse range of transportation initiatives,” said Ed Shikada, Palo Alto city manager. “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. Hutabarat Lo was responsible for special projects as transportation manager for the City of Sunnyvale advancing the design of Caltrain grade separations and has previous private sector experience as principal with Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates.
“I look forward to collaborating with City Manager Shikada, City staff, City Council and community members to advance Palo Alto’s transportation priorities,” said Ria Hutabarat Lo, Palo Alto chief transportation official.
Hutabarat Lo has a PhD 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.
Hutabarat Lo will start in her new role on June 2, 2025, with a salary of $237K.
For more about the City of Palo Alto, go here: www.PaloAlto.gov