Assistant Executive Director for Innovative Project Development

Phillip E. Russell, P.E., is the Assistant Executive Director for Innovative Project Development and he oversees the development and operation of turnpike projects, coordination and planning of rail projects, public-private partnerships, pass-thru finance agreements, long-term transportation planning, and coordination with local toll authorities and metropolitan planning organizations.

Russell is a 25-year TxDOT veteran, and previously served as director of the Texas Turnpike Authority Division. Under his direction, from 1998 to 2007, the division expanded the state highway system through the development of toll roads, working with districts and local officials on the formation of regional mobility authorities and state toll projects, and overseeing the preparation of public-private partnerships for TxDOT. He successfully managed the Central Texas Turnpike project, TxDOT's first toll road and the department's first Public-Private Partnership - SH 130. He also managed the department's Trans Texas Corridor activities.

He began his career with TxDOT as a summer employee in the Burnet Resident Engineer's Office in the Austin District in 1978. He began working full-time with the department in 1982 in the Dallas District where he served in numerous positions before he moved, in 1993, to become the director of transportation planning and programming in the Bryan District.

After earning a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1982 he attended the Texas Wesleyan University Law School in Fort Worth and graduated with honors in 1993.

He received the 2002 Outstanding Achievement Award for a public sector employee from the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, ARTBA. He was awarded the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, AASHTO, President's Transportation Award for Planning in 2006. Also, in 2008, he received ARTBA's 20th Anniversary Public Private Ventures Award.

Phil and his wife, Sandy, have three children.