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For Immediate Release

Senator John Burton and North Bay Firm--Fair, Isaac--Earn Recognition at Transportation Awards Ceremony

CONTACT:

Catalina Alvarado
510.817.5783

Réka Goode
510.464.7706

OAKLAND, Calif. (Sept. 23, 1999) -- The Metropolitan Transportation Commission yesterday recognized the San Rafael firm of Fair, Isaac and Company for its Petaluma Commute Center, and state Senator John Burton for his determined advocacy on behalf of transportation in 1999. The salute to the North Bay firm and legislator was made at ceremonies held Wednesday, Sept. 22, in Oakland as part of MTC's 23rd annual Transportation Awards program.

A total of 12 outstanding persons, organizations and projects were honored for their efforts to improve transportation in the Bay Area. "The awards program shows that people working together can develop innovative projects that make a difference," said MTC Executive Director Lawrence D. Dahms.

Sen. John Burton received the John F. Foran Legislative Award, awarded annually to a state or federal legislator whose efforts best sustain excellence in transportation policy. Sen. Burton was honored for carrying the torch for the funding needed to address the state's mounting transportation woes. While the funding issues remained unresolved this legislative session, Sen. Burton trained a much-needed spotlight on the state's transportation system. The legislator's District Representative Elmy Bermejo accepted the award on behalf of the senator.

Fair, Isaac Vice President Michael Gordon accepted an Award of Merit from Santa Rosa Councilmember and MTC Commissioner Sharon Wright, for the San Rafael firm's operation of a satellite office in Petaluma. The Petaluma Commute Center gives 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 2,400-square-foot Petaluma Commute Center, which has been in operation since 1997, offers Fair, Isaac workers 34 work stations with quick connections to the main office via phones, faxes and computers. Located one block from the freeway, the facility is open 24 hours
a day, seven days a week, allowing employees to stop for an hour or two on the way to or from San Rafael, or put in some after-hours or weekend time.

Abe Kleinfeld, the company's facility operations manager, notes, "We have a core group of employees who use the center on a regular basis. They feel it's a great boon to their productivity." The center helps to alleviate some of the stress of commuting for its nearly 200 employees who reside in Sonoma County, about 25 percent of the firm's local work force.

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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