Ober’s nomination covered an outstanding career in the public transit industry. He began his career at the Port Authority of Allegheny County in the early 1970’s. In 1980, Ober was appointed by the Beaver County Commissioners as an inaugural member of the Beaver County Transit Authority (BCTA) Board of Directors. He has been appointed to seven consecutive five-year terms on the Board. Since 1985, the BCTA Board of Directors went on to elect him chairman 17 times.
Kirk Dillard and Kasim Reed were awarded for their public transportation work in Chicago and Atlanta, respectively.
The award recognizes service to the organization, and particularly in Scully’s case, legislative advocacy on behalf of North American mass transit.
The SRTA’s program also received the Toll Excellence Award for Customer Service and Marketing Outreach from the International Bridge, Tunnel, and Turnpike Assoc.
One of the nation’s leading transit officials, Leahy served as CEO of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) for six years. During that time, he guided implementation of one of the largest public works programs in U.S. history, securing billions in federal and state dollars to help finance construction of dozens of transit and highway projects.
The Toronto Transit Commission developed a five-year plan that put the customer at the center of all that it does, from service planning to service delivery, including a new station management model, customer charter, fleet and infrastructure renewal, and how it manages its people.
The agency covers four major cities, spanning 2,300 square miles and provides local, express, commuter, and bus rapid transit services.
KAT has increased service levels on 14 of 23 regular fixed routes, along with restructuring three downtown trolley routes following extensive public input. During this same period, KAT has continued to emphasize the importance of safety throughout the organization, adding pedestrian awareness stickers to driver work stations, and limiting speeds in high-pedestrian areas, resulting in a 20% reduction in preventable accidents over three years.
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