Kansas City, Missouri – Kansas City’s infrastructure leadership is getting a new face with a lot of experience. City Manager Mario Vasquez announced that Jeff Martin will be the next Assistant City Manager. This means that there will be better control and cooperation on important public works and capital improvement projects. Martin stepped into the role effective Monday, July 14.
Martin has almost 30 years of experience working in public service and municipal engineering. His work has been closely linked to Kansas City’s expansion, both above and below the surface. Martin’s most recent job was as Deputy Director and Chief Engineering Officer at KC Water. There, he commanded six engineering divisions and oversaw the planning of more than $175 million in capital projects each year.
Martin worked for the City of Kansas City’s Public Works Department for more than 20 years before coming to KC Water. He worked his way up through the ranks, starting as a Graduate Engineer and ending up as City Engineer. His job there includes planning traffic, transportation, and construction services for the entire city.
Martin has had a big and lasting impact on the infrastructure of Kansas City. He was in charge of replacing 100 miles of old water mains, resurfacing more than 5,000 lane kilometers of streets, and moving forward with significant road reconstructions, such as those on Wornall Road and N Oak Trafficway.
He was also a key player in putting in place the city’s computerized sidewalk and pavement rating systems, which are now used to help make decisions about maintenance and investment. One of his ongoing efforts includes managing the design-build delivery of biosolids improvements at the Blue River Wastewater Treatment Plant, a major environmental project scheduled for completion in 2026.
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In his new job, Martin will work closely with City Manager Vasquez to help build infrastructure and run capital projects that include more than one department. Vasquez said that his technical skills and ability to work well with others made him the clear option.
“Jeff has devoted nearly 30 years of service as a professional engineer to Kansas City, earning the trust and respect of his peers and the community due to his thoughtful leadership approach and technical expertise,” said City Manager Mario Vasquez.
Martin, a Missouri Registered Professional Engineer with a civil engineering degree from the University of Missouri Science and Technology, expressed gratitude for the appointment.
“It has been an honor to dedicate my professional career to serving the Kansas City community,” Martin said. “I am deeply appreciative of the opportunity to continue this service and am both humbled and excited to contribute to meaningful, lasting progress that creates a positive impact for our entire city.”
