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TRANSACTIONS NEWSLETTER ONLINE

October 2008

2008 Transportation Awards: Excellence in Motion

Welcome to this special issue of Transactions, in which we highlight the winners of MTC’s 28th Transportation Awards Program. The biennial competition honors people, projects and organizations for exceptional contributions to Bay Area transportation. When we stepped back and looked at the 11 people and programs singled out this year, we were struck by the fact that of the four individuals receiving the ball-bearing award, three are women. Whether compiling a distinguished planning career, managing a megaproject or being the first to handle a physically demanding, formerly male-only job, these women stand out among all who keep us moving day to day.

Of the organizations being recognized and the people behind them, caring could be the common denominator: caring for their fellow human beings, caring for the environment and caring about creating better transportation options for us all.

But clearly, the showstopper in this round of the MTC Transportation Awards is the MacArthur Maze meltdown, which in the skilled hands of Caltrans and its many partners became the Maze miracle. Not only did contractors repair and rebuild the two crucial East Bay freeway connectors closed by the spectacular accident with astounding alacrity, but also, the specter of widespread traffic gridlock never materialized.

When the second connector opened in time for the busy 2007  Memorial Day weekend, the San Francisco Chronicle summed up the remarkable achievement: “Rebuilding the freeways was not just a highway construction project. With the Bay Area, the construction industry and others across the country watching, it became a race. Winning the race required an uncommon combination of pride, planning, timing and teamwork.”

Enjoy reading, and we hope you feel as inspired as we do by the innovations, hard work and good deeds showcased on these pages.

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