ITS Named Transportation Organization of the Year

Honor Given at California Transportation Foundation Yearly Awards Banquet

Samer Madanat, Susan Handy, and Will Recker

ITS Irvine Director Will Recker accepted the 2005 Organization of the Year Award from the California Transportation Foundation on behalf of the four Institute of Transportation Studies affiliates, ITS Berkeley, Davis, Irvine and Los Angeles.

According to the award citation, ITS was being "honored for its many years supporting California’s transportation community."

In thanking the foundation, Recker cited the need for "strong partnerships," and noted that "ITS is about to enter its 60th year of partnership with Caltrans, and that partnership is as strong and the mission as clear as it was in 1947."

Recker made note of the fact that the nomination for the award came from personnel at the Tech Transfer Program, "the public and professional face of what we do at the Institute."

Also in attendance were Susan Handy, UC Davis associate professor of environmental science and policy, representing ITS Davis, and ITS Berkeley Director Samer Madanat, professor of civil and environmental engineering.

More than 200 people attended the event, the 17th annual ceremony, which drew an audience made up of state, local and transportation offficals and policymakers, members of the transportation industry, consultants and elected officials.

Don Perata, President pro Tempore of the California State Senate, addressed the crowd on the occasion of his being named "Elected Official of the Year," in honor of his work on behalf of the Bay Bridge retrofit and strong support for increased transportation funding, notably the introduction of the transportation bond measure on November's ballot.

Perata termed the transportation bond something that would "recharge the spine" of California. Jim Earp, Executive Director of the California Alliance for Jobs, was named "Manager of the Year" for his work on behalf of the bond measure, as well.

Overall, some 77 nominations were received, and awards were given to more than a dozen agencies and individuals. Categories included individual freeway, pedestrian/bicycle, and transit projects, highway operations, transit management, transportation management, and environmental enhancements.

For more information about the 17th Annual TRANNY Awards, any of the honorees or about CTF, contact Sarah West at (916) 489-1629 or swest@westdirections.com.