Episode Player
MDOT’s new chief administrative officer takes on a road user charge project
Talking Michigan Transportation
Chapters
0:00
Meet MDOT’s New CAO
3:35
Culture Shock: From EGLE To MDOT
6:00
What The CAO Actually Oversees
9:20
Modes, Data, And Bridge Authority
12:00
Safety Tech And The Jetsons Joke
13:20
Road User Charge: The Mandate
15:30
RFP Timeline And TAC Role
18:10
Myths And Fairness Of Mileage Fees
21:10
Educating Residents And Lawmakers
Talking Michigan Transportation
MDOT’s new chief administrative officer takes on a road user charge project
Jan 29, 2026
Season 8
Episode 254
Michigan Department of Transportation
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with the new chief administrative officer at the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) about his role and his first big challenge, overseeing a legislatively mandated study and pilot of a road user charge (RUC) program.
Paul McDonald joined the department in November, coming from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE). He talks about his perceptions of transportation coming into the department, and what his new portfolio includes.
This week, he chaired the first meeting of the Technical Advisory Committee, made up of people both inside and outside government who will offer expertise as the process moves forward.
