Nashville, TN –Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT) Director Diana Alarcon has officially resigned, as announced by Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s office. Alarcon submitted her resignation on February 20, 2026, which was accepted by the mayor.
Mayor O’Connell expressed gratitude for Alarcon’s contributions during her four-year tenure, stating, “On Friday, I accepted NDOT Director Diana Alarcon’s resignation. I would like to express my gratitude for the time, energy, and dedication she brought to the role over the last four years. I appreciate her partnership and faithful service to the city we both love, and we wish her the best.”
Alarcon was appointed in late 2021 under former Mayor John Cooper and previously served as the transportation director for the city of Tucson. The announcement did not provide specific reasons for her departure or details regarding her future plans. Local news sources indicate that the circumstances surrounding her resignation remain unclear, with no public indication of controversy.
In response to Alarcon’s resignation, Mayor O’Connell has appointed Deputy Director Phillip Jones as the acting director, effective immediately. Jones brings over 30 years of experience with the department and has been instrumental in NDOT’s recent operations, including the response to the January 2026 ice storm.
The mayor expressed confidence in Jones’s ability to lead the department through this transition, citing his extensive background and recent contributions.
While NDOT has faced ongoing challenges in Nashville’s transportation and infrastructure landscape, including criticism following the January 2026 winter storm, there is no indication that these issues are directly linked to Alarcon’s resignation. Recent reports highlight a backlog of infrastructure needs across Tennessee, totaling over $82 billion, as well as ongoing discussions around multimodal improvements through the “Choose How You Move” plan.
This leadership change marks a standard transition as the new mayoral administration takes shape, with no official messaging suggesting that Alarcon’s departure stems from departmental failures.
