AUSTIN, TX Diann Hodges, a veteran of broadcast reporting in Austin, Texas, joins the Texas Department of Transportation Austin District Public Information Office (PIO) team. Hodges will handle media and community relations in the district and lend support for communications on multiple area projects, including work to rebuild 79 miles of I-35 in Williamson, Travis, and Hays counties. She will also play an important role in public involvement as the Austin District continues to perform environmental studies on numerous proposed transportation projects.

Hodges has nearly 20 years of experience in news radio, serving as a reporter and anchor for stations such as 590 KBLJ in Austin and 1080 KRLD in Dallas. She has won several AP Broadcasters awards for her work. Hodges also worked as a consumer awareness and education director for Anheuser-Busch wholesaler Brown Distributing. In that role, she helped to found and serve as president of the non-profit organization SoberRide, which provided free cab rides home to those who may have had too much to drink. The SoberRide campaign was later adopted by TxDOT. Hodges most recently contracted with the city of Lago Vista, Texas, to provide public information officer services including media relations, community relations and special events.