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TRANSACTIONS NEWSLETTER ONLINE

October 2000
Shining Stars
24th Annual Transportation Awards

GRETA ERICSON DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
JAMES ROBERTS,
CHIEF DEPUTY DIRECTOR, CALTRANS

James Roberts
Photo: Caltrans
James Roberts, chief deputy director of Caltrans, is an internationally known expert on seismic design and engineering, and a nearly 50-year veteran of the state's transportation department. He is this year's recipient of the Greta Ericson Award for career achievement in the transportation field.

He has been involved in almost every aspect of the agency: planning, design, construction, budgeting and administration.

Currently in charge of the state's $4.2 billion Bridge Seismic Retrofit Program, Roberts previously oversaw design and maintenance work on Caltrans' 12,000 bridges and other highway structures.

"Jim's greatest contribution to Caltrans is that he has made highway bridges throughout the state seismically safer," said Harry Yahata, director of Caltrans District 4. "He has also demonstrated the seismic retrofit concepts we use in California in conferences throughout the world."

The Greta Ericson Distinguished Service Award was created in 1998 to honor steadfast, exemplary leadership in the transportation profession. The award is named after former MTC Commissioner Greta Ericson, who spearheaded the creation of the MTC awards program in 1977. The Distinguished Service Award recognizes Ericson's belief that people can make a difference and that innovation should be recognized.

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