Executive Director
Miami-Dade Expressway Authority

Darlene M. Fernandez has worked as a transportation professional for the past 20 years both in the public and private sector. Ms. Fernandez is the Executive Director of the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX). MDX was created in 1994 by the Miami-Dade County Commission to establish local control over the toll revenue collected on five expressways for investment of local transportation infrastructure. Ms. Fernandez is the first woman to lead MDX and the third Executive Director in its 30-year existence.

As Executive Director, she manages and directs the operations, management, and expansion of the MDX system of expressways within Miami-Dade County and currently a Five-Year Work Program of $932 million. She is focusing on the delivery of the future of mobility and the contribution of MDX to the well-being of our community.

Prior to joining MDX, she served as the Assistant Director of Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works overseeing Traffic Signals, Signs Division and Traffic Engineering. She steered strategy, management and maintenance of the County’s traffic signals and traffic controls devices and specialized in complex transportation, traffic, and infrastructure projects.

In addition, all traffic studies for Miami-Dade and its municipalities fell under her purview, which provided her with a special perspective of the transportation needs of the residents of Miami-Dade County.

Ms. Fernandez started her career at the Florida Department of Transportation and worked in the private sector for various major engineering firms as well as for the City of Miami Beach. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Florida International University and has been a Registered Engineer since 2005.

She has been an avid community supporter in civic and professional associations that includes the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Florida Engineering Society. She also served as a past Board Member of MDX and recently received In the Company of Women Award 2022 – Government & Law Non-Elect from the Miami-Dade County Commission on Women & Parks Department.

Darlene Fernandez lives in Miami-Dade with her husband Andy, and their two sons, AJ, and Brandon.