New Transportation Director Brings County Road-Widening Experience to Job

MANASSAS, VA — Prince William County recently hired Ricardo Canizales as its transportation director, according to a release.

Although the county said it conducted a nationwide search and a competitive hiring process, it wound up going the in-house route.

Canizales has worked for the county's Department of Transportation for 14 years, most recently as Transportation Planning Division Chief, meaning he was on hand during the exhaustive widening of the Prince William County Parkway.

Last fall, Prince William County Board of Supervisors chairman Corey Stewart said the county has the "largest road construction program in the entire Commonwealth of Virginia, even larger than Fairfax County’s."

Given that assessment, Stewart said this month of Canizales' hiring:

"Rick Canizales' experience with planning, programming and funding transportation projects along with his relationships with regional, state and federal partners will be essential as we continue to improve the transportation and commuting options for the residents of Prince William County."

Gonzalez, a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, also has worked for the Virginia Department of Taxation, as well as the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission.

Photo: Prince William County