Nick Taylor has built a career around assisting others.
As the Local Transportation Engineer for the Fayette Area at the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), Taylor helps local government offices navigate infrastructure projects. This ensures state and federal funds are used efficiently to improve mobility and safety.
“My job is kind of unique because I don’t work directly on ALDOT projects,” said Taylor, an 18-year veteran within the West Central Region. “Instead, I oversee the flow of state and federal funds for various projects that cities and counties undertake.”
Taylor acts as a channel between local officials, consultants and contractors. His work is particularly important for smaller towns and counties that may not have the resources or expertise to manage road improvements independently. He guides them through the complex processes of securing permits, finding funding and addressing safety issues.
“I help them with their odds and ends and guide them to where they need to go,” Taylor said.
Taylor played a crucial role in securing additional funding for the city of Eutaw after contract bids exceeded the original awarded amount, preventing the project from stalling due to a lack of local resources.
“I can help them find funding,” he said. “I can help them get their safety issues solved or whatever it is.”
His desire for engineering began as a teenager, inspired by friends who shared his love for problem-solving and construction. He then completed a degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Alabama before earning his professional engineer license.
Prior to ALDOT, he worked at Hunt Refining Company and TTL, a construction consulting firm, gaining practical experience.
For the past six years, Taylor has split his work between office tasks and fieldwork, where he assesses road conditions and oversees ongoing projects. The projects he helps facilitate often originate from residents who report road concerns.
“It depends on the need, but identifying issues typically comes from people seeing these roads every single day,” Taylor said.
Taylor said he truly enjoys helping others and it has become his favorite part of the job.
“If you’d asked me this several years ago, my answer would have been different,” Taylor said. “We engineers are usually known for being good with things, but not with people. I’ve learned to communicate better and build relationships. Now, what I enjoy most is helping people find solutions.”
