Tara Olds is the Director of MnDOT’s Connected and Automated Vehicles Office. Tara leads Minnesota’s CAV engineering, policy, planning, and research and deployment programs. She works to create programming to advance the safe deployment of CAV technologies to promote equitable and sustainable transportation while partnering on regional and national research and policy development.

Tara’s background spans across engineering, construction, project management, community engagement, and traffic safety. She is passionate about creating meaningful and inclusive public engagement to ensure our transportation programs and projects meet the diverse needs of our communities. Tara has a degree in civil engineering from the University of Iowa (Go Hawkeyes!) and a Master’s in Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Policy. Outside of work, Tara enjoys spending time working out, playing broomball, watching sports, visiting family, and spending time with her wife and kids.