Oregon’s transportation agency gets new boss who knows commuters’ woes

Kris Strickler is being promoted to run the Oregon Transportation Department. He has billions to spend and thousands of employees to manage while addressing outside critics. (Claire Withycombe/Oregon Capital Bureau)

SALEM — Oregonians fuming over stalled freeway traffic have a sympathetic person in a powerful spot.

Kris Strickler, a civil engineer who has spent the better part of his career in government service, is the new director of the state Transportation Department — and a…