First woman ODOT director steps down

January 6, 2011 at 12:39p.m.

COLUMBUS — Jolene M. Molitoris, the first woman to lead the century-old Ohio Department of Transportation, will step down from her position Sunday.

Gov. Ted Strickland appointed Molitoris to the position in 2009.

Under her leadership, ODOT made investments in every county of the state and in every major mode of travel and shipping. Most notable, she led the department’s historic $2.1 billion construction program in state fiscal year 2010 — largest in Ohio history by more than 30 percent — at a time when ODOT staffing was at its lowest in 30 years.