Celebrating its 14th year of being the public’s voice to ensure transportation decisions in Michigan support the greater public good, the Transportation Riders United (TRU) organization held its annual awards dinner at the St. Regis Hotel on May 7th. The theme of this year’s event was “transit matters” …. and it certainly does for thousands of people on a daily basis. With a silent auction, beautifully appointed ballroom and a lively audience, TRU planned a truly inspirational event for all those in attendance.
Nominees and Awardees Honored for Transit Award
Every year TRU honors those champions who are truly making a difference in moving transit forward in metro Detroit and beyond. Below are the categories and 2015 winners of the evenings’ award ceremony. The Rising Transit Star Award is awarded to the next gen transit leader making a major impact on improving regional transit. This years’ award winner was Jordan Twardy, Executive Director of Eight Mile Boulevard Association.
The Everyday Innovation Award is awarded to those with fresh ideas, leading the way to make transit more accessible, functional and uniquely our own in the Motor City and beyond. The Program to Educate All Cyclists (PEAC) was this years’ Exemplary Innovation Awardee.
Transit Employee of the Year award honors an employee who has gone above and beyond making Detroit area transit more effective and welcoming to riders in the region. Cornelius Henry of RTA’s Providers Advisory Council was chosen as this years’ awardee.
This years’ Unsung Hero Award was received by Rev. Louise Ott, pastor of the Congregational Church of Birmingham, United Church of Christ. Pastor Ott has recently become a staunch advocate of transit and chairs the Metro Coalition of Congregations (MCC) Transit Taskforce.
Elected officials, appointees and other public servants serve a crucial role to dramatically improve our public transit throughout Metro Detroit. The Forward Motion Award for Most Effective Public Servant was received by Melanie Piana, member of the Downtown Detroit Partnership who sits on the Ferndale City Council. Melanie also serves on the Ferndale Planning Commission and its Environmental Sustainability Commission, is council representative to SEMCOG, and is part of the Woodward Avenue Bus Rapid Transit Steering Committee.
The Face of Transit Award was awarded to James Robertson and the Transit Impact Award went to Detroit Free Press Columnist Bill Laitner. Many in our community are aware of James Robertsons’ inspiring story of diligence and perseverance by walking miles to and from work daily in all four seasons for years and the excellent coverage of this story by Mr. Laitner. It’s both a blessing this story was written and received such magnificent coverage and a curse that anyone should have to sacrifice so much just to maintain a job. This story reflects at least 2 generations of failed public policy on transit issues and the profound impact it has had on thousands of lives, mostly for those from the lower social economic status.
Conclusion
As Executive Director Megan Owens remarked in her closing, “Our region is at a transit crossroads”. Megan’s counting on our region taking a new path and more exciting direction by bringing transit agencies together. For the entire good of the region, it’s time to get more people on the bus for a truly regional transit solution. Here’s hoping the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) will be a big part of this transit solution.
ROBERT E. MATTLER, Associate Broker, Attorney and LEED AP BD+C, is Director of Green Brokerage at Armada Real Estate Services in West Bloomfield, Michigan. He speaks, writes and reports about emerging green real estate and development issues in Michigan and elsewhere. Bob is a senior correspondent for www.greeningdetroit.com
For more information, contact Bob at Greening Detroit (248) 762-4370; or by e-mail: bmattler@greeningdetroit.com