Philip Nitollama: City Traffic Engineer @ City of Riverside, CA

Joseph Blackman welcomed Philip Nitollama, the City Traffic Engineer for the city of Riverside, California, to the public works podcast where Philip Nitollama detailed his multidimensional role overseeing transportation planning, traffic signal operations, and community engagement. Philip Nitollama discussed the legal responsibilities of defending municipal engineering decisions in litigation, his extensive work establishing Safe Routes to School programs, and his division management style that balances technical objectives with substantial personnel support. He highlighted his career trajectory from civil engineering at UC Irvine to securing over $30 million in infrastructure grants for bike lanes, speed limit reductions, and signal synchronization. Key talking points included managing conflicting traffic flow objectives with Caltrans, addressing emerging micromobility challenges like high-speed e-bike safety, and the essential shift toward utilizing big data and public communication to modernize the workforce. He also shared his "10% rule" for continuous professional growth, his billboard message urging drivers to "Slow Down, Every Street User Matters" and his appreciation for mentors who instilled a resilient "mamba mentality" in his public service career. Give the show a listen and remember to thank your local Public Works Professionals.