The City of Springfield is mourning the loss of its director of Public Works. Phil Broyles died Saturday after a brief battle with cancer, the city stated in a news release.
Broyles, 65, was named Public Works director in July 2011, after previously serving as co-interim director of Public Works and assistant director - operations. He came to Springfield after a 30-year career with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT).
In 2012, Broyles was named one of the Top 10 Public Works Professionals in the country by American Public Works Association (APWA). He oversaw the creation of the nation’s first diverging diamond intersection (Kansas Expressway and I-44), and sanctioned and supported the creation of Neighborhood Traffic Committees to work with neighborhood associations and area stakeholders to solve small-scale traffic problems. Additionally, Broyles received the Distinguished Service Award from the Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation, and under his leadership, Public Works received accreditation from the APWA.
“Phil possessed a “can do” spirit, but with the easy-going style of a long-time friend that made people want to work with him,” said Springfield City Manager Greg Burris. “Whether it was accomplishing the APWA accreditation or achieving the recognition of Top 10 Public Works professional of North America, Phil stood for honesty, transparency, and excellence. He was a champion of transportation, neighborhoods, and doing things right. Phil will be missed within our City family, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.”
Mayor Bob Stephens praised Broyles for both his expertise and positive outlook.
“Phil Broyles was an extremely knowledgeable and respected Director of Public Works,” Stephens said. “But beyond that, he was a class act and a gentleman. He truly served the citizens of Southwest Missouri and Springfield cheerfully, and well,” Stephens said.
The Department of Public Works employs about 220 people in: Transportation Engineering, Storm Water Engineering, Street Maintenance, Traffic-Operations, Traffic-Transportation Management, Construction Inspection, and Internal Services. Within these divisions is the responsibility for Maintaining and Operating the City's Streets, Rights-of-way, Buildings, and Vehicles.
According to the city, Springfield Public Works professionals maintain 1,935 lane miles of streets, 138 traffic signals and 38,000 traffic and street signs, 100 public buildings (nearly 1,200,000 square feet), 70 bridges and waterways.