Public Works, Transportation & Operational Leadership

Ouray County, Colorado

Road & Bridge Superintendent | 2021–Present

Responsible for maintenance and construction of roads and bridges throughout unincorporated Ouray County, including paved and unpaved roads, high-country roads, and mountain passes.

• Authored, staffed, and implemented the County’s Right-of-Way Encroachment Permitting Policy.
• Reorganized departmental staffing to decentralize authority and improve operational efficiency.
• Worked to increase service levels to the community.
• Developed the County’s One-and-Six Year Road Plan.
• Directed road, bridge, equipment, and operational activities in a demanding mountain environment.

Nebraska Department of Transportation

Highway Operations Assistant Division Manager | 2017–2021

Oversaw statewide operational-support functions including procurement, commercial construction, operations support, facilities maintenance, fleet management, and emergency-management coordination.

• Evaluated statewide programs and implemented cost-saving practices.
• Advocated for increased investment in capital facilities and fleet replacement.
• Resolved contract disputes and enforced vendor performance requirements.
• Represented Nebraska as a voting member of the AASHTO Committee on Maintenance.
• Represented Nebraska in the Clear Roads national research consortium.

Transportation research & process improvement

Nebraska DOT research materials identify Ty as a lead technical advisory member on validation of the Mechanical Rocker Test for measuring the ice-melting capacity of liquid deicers. NDOT later used the validated test in procurement scoring.

An NDOT Roadrunner report also documented a redesigned liquid-deicer purchasing process that reduced end-to-end processing time from 39 days to 12 days, with Ty describing plans to build on the improvement for other deicing products.

City of Lincoln, Nebraska

Public Works Maintenance Manager | 2014–2017

Senior manager of a 120-person unionized municipal workforce responsible for streets, fleet, and facilities.

• Managed several multimillion-dollar operating budgets and contract-administration responsibilities.
• Oversaw approximately 2,800 lane-miles of public right-of-way and three major maintenance facilities.
• Managed fleet, street maintenance, NPDES/MS4 environmental compliance, vegetation control, and labor-relations responsibilities.
• Developed detailed procedures for interdepartmental operations.
• Developed and implemented an innovative winter-maintenance program that reduced total program costs by approximately 30 percent.

Innovation, winter maintenance & operations

Professional coverage from this period includes a technical Roads & Bridges article on customized brine, a Government Fleet feature on improved pothole-repair efficiency, and a Boise State Public Radio interview about Lincoln’s snow-removal practices.

Earlier municipal operations

As a Street Maintenance District Supervisor, Ty directly supervised stormwater field crews and street-sanitation operations and supported maintenance of a municipal stormwater system connecting approximately 23,000 inlets. He also developed a comprehensive departmental training program covering equipment, operating procedures, standards of performance, and safety controls.

United States Marine Corps

Enlisted Marine, Officer & Senior Officer

Ty served in the United States Marine Corps from enlisted service through the rank of Major. His assignments included Installation Operations Officer, Installation Training Officer, Battalion Executive Officer, Battalion Operations & Training Officer, Infantry Company Commander, Headquarters & Service Company Commander, School Administrator, Company Executive Officer, Platoon Commander, Instructor, and Section Leader.

His responsibilities ranged from leading small operational teams to managing organizations involving thousands of civilian employees and service members, with work encompassing organizational planning, training, emergency preparedness, environmental programs, executive briefings, and overseas contingency operations.

Road & Bridge policy development

Two official Ouray County resources illustrate Ty Barger’s emphasis on long-range planning and supervisory leadership within Road & Bridge.