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Transportation Heroes Earn Recognition at MTC's Transportation Awards Ceremony

See the winners profiled in the September 1999 issue of Transactions

CONTACT:

Catalina Alvarado
510.817.5783

Réka Goode
510.464.7706

OAKLAND, Calif. (Sept. 22, 1999) -- The Metropolitan Transportation Commission saluted 12 outstanding persons, organizations and projects this morning at its 23rd annual Transportation Awards ceremony in Oakland. The awards highlight efforts to improve transportation in the Bay Area. "Through the awards program, we are able to show that people working together can develop innovative projects that make a difference," said MTC Executive Director Lawrence D. Dahms.

Taking home the Grand Award was Adopt-a-Muni, a volunteer organization started by residents in the West of Twin Peaks area of San Francisco, who attacked the grime and crime in and around the Forest Hill Muni Metro Station. Organized by Joseph Blue, the hands-on, don't-take-no-for-an-answer citizen force armed itself with mops, brooms and scrub brushes, also lobbying city officials for more resources. Two years later, the Forest Hill Station is a restored architectural gem. Crime around the station is down, as is graffiti.

The Commission bestowed several other special awards. The Doris W. Kahn Accessible Transportation Award went to Sue Hodges, a long-time advocate for the disabled community. A resident of Oakland, Hodges is chair of the Oakland Mayor's Committee on Persons with Disabilities, and a member of the Access BART Coalition Paratransit Committee and MTC's Elderly and Disabled Advisory Committee, among others.

Caltrans Tunnels and Tubes Operator Douglas La Vallee received the Special Employee Award for his heroism in 1996 when he helped a woman from her burning car in the Caldecott Tunnel, and for his leadership role over the past several years in improving safety practices by members of the Tunnels and Tubes crew.

State Senator John Burton was honored with the John F. Foran Legislative Award for his determined advocacy on behalf of transportation in 1999. Sen. Burton carried the torch for the funding needed to address the state's mounting transportation woes. While his package of bills did not make it out of the Legislature in 1999, they will likely be taken up next year.

The Greta Ericson Distinguished Service Award was presented to two individuals: to SamTrans General Manager Gerald Haugh for his leadership in San Mateo County over the past 17 years; and to former Caltrans Public Information Officer Robert Halligan, presented posthumously, for his role in adorning the San Francisco Bay Bridge with a necklace of lights, his efforts to create a Caltrans history room, and his excellent rapport with the media.

Six Award of Merit winners also were recognized:

  • Fair, Isaac and Co., a provider of decision-making technology, was honored for its Petaluma Commute Center, which has been in operation since 1997. The San Rafael firm operates the satellite office in Petaluma to give employees a place to wait out peak-period traffic congestion on Highway 101 and get a start on their workday at the same time.
  • The renovation of Caltrain's 23-year-old terminus at 4th and King streets in San Francisco was singled out. The formerly drab and uninviting station has been transformed into a light and airy structure, with a glass-and-steel enclosed concourse.
  • The Santa Clara County Traffic Operations Center was recognized for its high-tech approach to smoothing the flow of traffic on the county's 75 miles of expressways. The center uses live traffic videos and other data to zero in on problems and quickly adjust the timing of traffic signals on the county's expressways.
  • Two organizations that work to involve the public in the transportation planning process were presented a joint Award of Merit: the Bay Area Transportation Choices Forum and Building Opportunities for Self Sufficiency (BOSS), which fights poverty and homelessness.
  • A group of Caltrans District 4 employees, the Public Awareness Campaign Team, were congratulated for their efforts to educate the public about safety and the work of Caltrans.
  • San Francisco Chroncle cartoonist Phil Frank was honored for frequently spotlighting transportation topics in his witty and humorous daily comic strip, "Farley."

MTC is the regional transportation planning, funding and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.

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Note: Please call MTC for a complete listing of award winners.

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