Public affairs grad Leland Robinson has the DOT in his DNA. It’s not surprising, given that his father and grandfather both retired from New York City’s Department of Transportation (DOT) after a combined 50 years on the job. At age 28, Robinson has logged more than seven years with the DOT and says that he, too, will likely retire from there in another 30 or so years.

A Staten Island native, Robinson is the DOT’s Bronx Borough engineer, responsible for nearly everything involving traffic signs in the borough. This includes sign-related traffic studies, installation and maintenance, balancing the division’s budget, and overseeing a staff of inspectors, managers, laborers, and others. “Our primary concern is public safety,” says Robinson.

His first job at the DOT was fixing broken parking meters. “We had a route to walk. You worked in the rain, the snow, and the sweltering heat. I probably walked three to four miles a day,” he remembers. His other DOT assignments included emptying Muni Meters, manufacturing traffic signs, and supervising a sign shop.

Like so many Baruch students, Robinson worked full time and attend college part time. “Nothing’s going to get in my way of accomplishing what I want to accomplish,” he told himself. Twice he was awarded the Mayor’s Graduate Scholarship, which is given to full-time city employees pursuing a master’s degree. He graduated with honors from Pi Alpha Alpha, the national honor society for public affairs and administration. He calls his time in Baruch’s School of Public Affairs (SPA) “an invaluable experience,” adding that “there is a great sense of purpose at SPA, as if everyone is there to do some good in the world. It’s not every day you get to experience that kind of community.”

Robinson believes he may be the youngest person to hold the position of borough engineer with the DOT. “Working in this capacity at this age and stage of my life really is an honor. Not everyone gets to have a positive impact on the community the way that I do,” says Robinson.

—Barbara Lippman

[box sid=”box-1351011166″ width=”500px;” style=”background-color:#453;” type=”2″ align=”left”]SOME STREET SIGN FACTS:

  • About 20,000 traffic signs are installed and replaced annually in the Bronx.
  • There are 180,000 different types of traffic signs in the Bronx.
  • Parking signs are stolen the most often because, according to Robinson, “Nobody likes a parking regulation.”[/box]