Adrienne Barnes, the longtime chief spokeswoman at the Baltimore City Department of Transportation, announced her resignation to colleagues in a department-wide email Monday afternoon.
She is the latest member of the department’s senior staff to leave following the appointment of Transportation Director Michelle Pourciau a year ago. The department’s chief of staff, Eboni Wimbush, and senior adviser, Frank Murphy, did not respond to a request for comment late Monday.
Reached by phone, Barnes confirmed her departure and said it will be effective the end of the month. She said she is leaving city government after nearly 30 years, but declined to say where she would be going next.
“I felt like it was a time for a change, for me to grow personally and professionally,” Barnes said.
Barnes started the department’s press shop with fellow spokeswoman Kathy Dominick in 2001, after Transportation became its own department in a city reorganization. Transportation previously had been a bureau of the Department of Public Works, where she had worked in community affairs.
She also previously worked in the housing department and the mayor’s office.
“I am very proud of the contribution and service I have provided to the citizens of Baltimore,” Barnes wrote in her email to colleagues, “and I want to thank all of you for your support, encouragement, laughter and wonderful memories we have made over the years.”
