"Public Works is one of the city's most critical functions in terms of delivering the services that impact the community's lives every single day," Hickenlooper says.

Vidal is currently the executive director of the Denver Regional Council of Governments, a position he's held since 1999. He manages a $10-million annual operating budget and the distribution of more than $57 million in federal funds annually at DRCOG. Vidal restructured the organization to reduce bureaucracy and increase energy and participation.

During his tenure, he led the investment of more than $40 million into regional projects such as the Central Platte Valley Light Rail Spur and Denver Union Station, and oversaw the signing of the Mile High Compact. That is an inter-governmental agreement among DRCOG members requiring them to work together to implement Metro Vision, the region's comprehensive growth plan that integrates land use, transportation, open space and air quality issues.

Previously, Vidal spent 23 years with the Colorado Department of Transportation, where he worked his way up from the position of Highway Design Engineer to eventually serving as the executive director under former Gov. Roy Romer for five years.

Under his leadership as executive director, CDOT implemented a re-engineering effort of all project design and construction processes, completed the first statewide multi-modal transportation long-range plan in Colorado's history, and established the first multi-modal mission statement and air quality policy in the department's history.

Vidal spearheaded huge construction projects around the state, most notably the reconstruction of the I-25/I-70 "Mousetrap" Interchange, the construction of C-470, and the reconstruction and widening of North I-25 through Denver that included the HOV lanes.

Among his accomplishments is the demolition of the Stapleton runway tunnels on I-70 and the coordination of traffic control on the state highway system during Pope John Paul's visit to Denver in 1993.

Prior to joining CDOT in 1976, Vidal worked for the local engineering firm of Stearns-Rogers, Inc. Vidal and his two brothers are natives of Cuba and were sent to Colorado by their parents in 1961. They lived at the Sacred Heart Orphanage in Pueblo, Colorado, until they were reunited with their parents in 1964 and moved to Denver.

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