Houston Public Works Director Randy Macchi: Major Infrastructure Improvements

When Randy Macchi took over as Houston's Public Works Director, the city had 1,900 active water main leaks running at the same time. He's brought that number down to roughly 100 — and other mayors have started calling to ask how.Macchi isn't an engineer. He's a  University of Houston law school graduate who ran a nationwide property and casualty insurer before Mayor Whitmire put him in charge of the nation's largest accredited public works agency. In this episode, he breaks down what he walked into, what has changed, and what he's willing to promise on camera. That includes 750 lane miles of roadway rehabilitation in just 10 months — more than double the city's previous best — the new $5 monthly solid waste administrative fee, the right-of-way rental fee that ends the city's practice of charging every private Texas utility except its own, and the stat that reframes Houston's street problem: nine out of ten sinkholes trace back to a collapsed wastewater pipe.He also explains why, the day before his first day on the job, he sat in a car dealership waiting room, watched a Public Works crisis break on the news, and quietly asked himself what he'd gotten into.Key topics: Water main leak reduction · 750 lane miles in 10 months · Solid Waste consolidation · $5 solid waste administrative fee · Right-of-way rental fee · Houston sinkhole causes · What "delivery" means as a governing standardThanks for listening!New episodes from inside Houston City Hall, featuring candid conversations about the issues, decisions, and leadership shaping the future of Houston.Connect with Mayor John Whitmire and the Mayor’s Office:Instagram: @houstonmayorX: @HouMayorWebsite: https://www.houstontx.gov/mayor/Follow the show for more conversations from inside the Mayor’s Office.