Deadline Extended to Nominate Transportation Award Winners

OAKLAND, CA — There’s still time to recognize outstanding transportation projects or a favorite transit operator by nominating them for one of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s (MTC) 2008 Transportation Awards. MTC has extended the deadline for nominations to Friday, May 23.

This biennial “Excellence in Motion” awards program honors exceptional projects, organizations and individuals that strive to make travel around the Bay Area a little easier.

“By extending the deadline for two weeks, we hope to encourage more people to recognize their transportation heroes,” said MTC Executive Director Steve Heminger. “Our goal is to honor people, projects and programs that generate new and better ways to improve transportation in the nine Bay Area counties.”

MTC is seeking nominations for five special award categories (it is not necessary to specify an award category):

• The Miriam Gholikely Award recognizes extraordinary accomplishments in the field of community service, volunteerism, advocacy, leadership or minority affairs.
• The Doris W. Kahn Accessible Transportation Award honors efforts that have resulted in significant improvement in transportation services for the elderly or persons with disabilities.
• The David Tannehill Special Employee Award is intended for a bus driver, train operator or other transportation employee who goes beyond the call of duty.
• The Greta Ericson Distinguished Service Award recognizes long-term, quality leadership in the transportation profession.
• The John F. Foran Legislative Award honors a state or federal legislator whose work has had a positive effect on transportation.

In addition to these special awards, a Grand Award and Awards of Merit are given to recognize worthy organizations, people or projects, regardless of their specific transportation focus. Examples of past winners include programs that make more efficient use of the transportation network, groups that work to inform and educate the public about transportation issues, individual or group efforts to improve transit service or boost smart growth, and efforts to promote the use of bicycling or other alternatives to driving alone.

The new deadline for all nominations is Friday, May 23. Winners will be selected by a jury representing MTC and the community. Visit the MTC Web site to submit an online nomination. Call the MTC Public Information Office at (415) 778-6757 for more information.

MTC is the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area’s transportation planning, coordinating and financing agency.

Contact:

Pam Grove, MTC: (415) 778-6706

Catalina Alvarado, MTC: (510) 817-5783