The Department for Transport's director of local transport, Graham Pendlebury, is stepping down from his role this year.
Mr Pendlebury will take partial retirement on 1 June and full retirement on 1 November, after which time he will be leaving the civil service permanently.
During that period he will continue as the UK's first delegate to the World Road Association.
John Lamb, president of the Local Government Technical Advisers Group, said: 'Graham has always been a major force in creating a place where the priorities of local councils are understood.
'Acutely aware of minister’s priorities he was still able to work with local government in constructing a platform where DfT and councils could co-design responses to some of the biggest challenges. Indeed it was from detailed discussions with Graham and his teams that our Transforming the Narrative arose.
'One of the most remarkable aspects of his leadership has been the way in which he always worked to develop his team into positions of leadership and influence. The experience they have gained will serve the DfT well for decades to come. His successor will have a tough act to follow. '
Mr Pendlebury joined the civil service in 1984 and is a popular figure in the transport sector, able to match the required diplomacy of a civil servant with an open approach and a dry wit.
He has spoken at many key industry events in support of groups like ADEPT and TAG, and always provided an up-front assessment of the transport funding and policy landscape.
The DfT has started to advertise for his replacement.
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