Council honors Brian Gallagher on retirement after decades in transportation

The Los Ángeles City Council honored Brian Gallagher on the occasion of his retirement, praising his decades of service in the city’s Department of Transportation and his work on signal systems, mentorship and recruiting.

Councilmember Padilla opened the recognition, describing Gallagher’s career trajectory and his influence on traffic operations across the city. "Bryan [sic] Gallagher and his work in the Department of Transportation has transformed the city," Padilla said on the dais, noting Gallagher’s oversight of signal corridors and thousands of signalized intersections.

Adam Mitchell, who spoke after Padilla, said Gallagher brought "a big heart" to his work and emphasized how transportation projects can "care for the lives of others." Mitchell noted Gallagher’s role defending the city in litigation and his efforts to recruit and mentor engineers from underrepresented groups.

Gallagher briefly addressed the council, recounting the early days of city work and the evolution of technology and operations in the department. He described beginning city service after the Olympics era and adapting to new systems and tools over a multi‑decade career. "My last day was last Friday and I still have reports to finish," he said, reflecting on the difficulty of leaving long‑term colleagues and projects.

Councilmembers across districts thanked Gallagher for his career and presented a plaque on behalf of the city. The council’s remarks noted his work as a mentor and his leadership in departmental programs to hire and train new engineering staff.

The recognition was presented as part of the council’s regular agenda of district presentations and ceremonial items.