Pritzker taps Biagi to head Illinois DOT

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has named Gia Biagi to lead the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) pending llinois Senate approval.

As transportation secretary, Biagi would succeed Omer Osman, who is retiring after 35 years of service to the department.

Previously, Biagi served as transportation commissioner for the city of Chicago. She has decades of experience in urban planning, transportation and public policy, IDOT officials said in a press release. Biagi also advised private- and public-sector clients as principal of urbanism and civic impact at Chicago-based architecture and urban design practice. 

Prior to these roles, Biagi spent more than 10 years at the Chicago Park District in various leadership and urban development roles.

Osman began his career at IDOT in 1989 as a civil engineer. He transitioned to executive management of the department, overseeing major modernization and reconstruction projects. He was appointed  transportation secretary in 2019.