Fort Smith names new director of streets, traffic control

Greg Riley is the new director of Streets and Traffic Control for the city of Fort Smith.

On Tuesday (April 3), the Fort Smith Board of Directors approved a recommendation by Fort Smith City Administrator Ray Gosack to hire Riley.

Riley replaces Bob Wright, who retired last month after 27 years of employment with the city. Greg begins his new duties April 9.

Riley has worked in the city’s Engineering department as a project engineer for the past 11 years. He is a registered professional engineer, and earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Arkansas.

“The person in this position directly impacts citizens’ lives, especially in inclement weather. It’s a low-profile job with big responsibilities. Citizens expect our streets to be navigable, and well-maintained. Greg’s working knowledge of streets, traffic, and drainage in general, and the issues unique to Fort Smith helped make Greg the logical choice for this position,” Gosack said in a statement.

The search committee reviewed more than two dozen applications from across the country and interviewed 6 of those candidates, determining that Greg’s proven track record of communicating well with citizens and with staff were also factors in the recommendation.

Riley is a veteran of the United States Navy, and lives in Fort Smith with his 2 children.