Washington,
D.C. – The Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) recently
welcomed two distinguished industry leaders to its Board of Directors, which
represents all segments of the transportation industry and guides the strategic
goals and activities of the association. The Board appointed Dr.
Dennis Christiansen, Agency Director of the Texas Transportation Institute, and
Keith Parker, President and Chief Executive Officer of VIA Metropolitan
Transit.
The Board
also reappointed Nady Boules, Director of Electrical & Controls Integration Lab of
General Motors; Dana Christensen, Deputy Lab Director, Science and Technology,
National Renewable Energy Laboratories; Patrick McGowan, President of
Telvent Transportation North America; David St. Amant, President/COO of
Econolite Control Products, Inc.; and Peter Sweatman, Director of the
University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.
Meet our
New Board Members
Dr. Dennis
Christiansen, Agency
Director of the Texas Transportation Institute, brings extensive research
experience in traffic operations, transportation planning, and transit
planning. Dr. Christiansen is an international expert in high occupancy
vehicle lanes and was one of the pioneers of the concept in Houston with
significant involvement in its development and implementation. His
research in HOV lanes has been utilized throughout the country and has made a
significant impact on the effectiveness of the transportation system in Texas
and elsewhere.
He is the
senior editor of two books and the author of numerous reports and publications
about various facets of transportation and traffic engineering. Dr.
Christiansen has received numerous awards in the field of transportation, most
recently honorary membership in the Institute of Transportation Engineers in
2010. Dr. Christiansen graduated from Northwestern University with a
bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and received his master’s and Ph.D.
degrees in civil engineering from Texas A&M University. He is a registered
professional engineer in the state of Texas.
Keith
Parker has served as
president and chief executive officer of VIA Metropolitan Transit in San
Antonio since July 2009 and is working to bring innovations to VIA that will
improve the livability and sustainability of the region, while transforming to
a true multi-modal agency. He is committed to having VIA recognized as
America’s “greenest” transit agency. In addition to recent orders of CNG and
hybrid diesel electric buses, VIA is currently awaiting the delivery of several
all-electric buses that may be the most environmentally-friendly in the world.
Parker is
also overseeing the final stages in the implementation of bus rapid transit,
the first high-capacity transit technology to be established in San Antonio.
VIA is finalizing the Long Range Comprehensive Transportation Plan, a visionary
document that will guide the agency in the development of future high-capacity
transit corridors in the San Antonio region. Parker came to San Antonio
from Charlotte, North Carolina where he was the chief executive officer and director
of public transit for the Charlotte Area Transit System. In April 2011,
Parker was recognized as CEO of the Year by the Texas Diversity Council.
About the
Intelligent Transportation Society of America
The
Intelligent Transportation Society of America represents more than 400 member
organizations including public agencies, private corporations, and academic
institutions involved in the research, development, and deployment of
technologies that improve safety, increase mobility, strengthen the economy,
and sustain the environment. http://www.itsa.org
No comments:
Post a Comment