Two national groups will mark his teaching, research achievements in ceremonies at leading transportation conference

Professor Martin Wachs, Director of the Institute of Transportation Studies, is receiving two awards during the Transportation Research Board's Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. in January 2003.

Wachs, who is Professor of City and Regional Planning and Civil and Environmental Engineering, will receive the Council of University Transportation Centers (CUTC) Award for Distinguished Contribution to University Transportation Education and Research at the organization's annual awards banquet on January 11.

The CUTC award has been given annually since 1998 to honor individuals who have had a long history of outstanding contributions to university transportation education and research. Previous winners affiliated with UC Berkeley include William Garrison, Professor Emeritus of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Lester Hoel, who earned his doctorate in engineering at Berkeley.

Later in the week, Wachs will receive the W.N. Carey, Jr., Award, which will be presented at the TRB Chairman's Luncheon on January 15. The award honors individuals who have provided leadership and distinguished service to the Transportation Research Board. Wachs has been an active participant in numerous TRB committees since1964. He served on the organization's executive committee for nine years and became chairman in 2000. Go to TRB press release announcing the award.

In granting the award, TRB noted his thoughtful and consensus-oriented style of leadership, and cited his success in encouraging younger people, minorities and women to participate in the organization, thereby broadening its membership.

"I am overwhelmed and delighted," said Wachs upon hearing the news he would receive both awards within the same week.

Before becoming Director of ITS, Wachs was Professor of Urban Planning and Director of the Institute of Transportation Studies at UCLA. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering from the City University of New York, and MS and Ph.D. degrees in Transportation Planning from the Civil Engineering Department at Northwestern University.

Wachs is currently on a sabbatical leave in Washington, D.C. where he is a Visiting Scholar at Resources for the Future. He is writing a book on transportation finance.