Heiligenstein Takes Helm as President of International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association

WASHINGTON, DC – On January 1st, Mike Heiligenstein, Executive Director of the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA), Austin, Texas, began his year-long term as President of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA), the worldwide association representing toll facility owners and operators and the businesses that serve them. In addition to Heiligenstein, eight directors began new terms on IBTTA’s board of directors on January 1st.  The new officers and directors were elected last September at IBTTA’s 81st Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia.

“Over the next year, I look forward to leading our industry’s international association while highlighting the great work at The Mobility Authority and other IBTTA member organizations around the globe,” said Heiligenstein.

“Many of the challenges we face in Central Texas to provide safe, reliable, enjoyable and green mobility in one of the nation’s fastest growing regions are challenges that are universal to transportation authorities around the world,” said Heiligenstein  “Throughout 2014, the tolling industry will have the opportunity to share experiences and learn from one another to bring best practices to work on behalf of our customers especially during IBTTA’s 82nd Annual Meeting and Exhibition in Austin, Texas.”

Heiligenstein has been with Mobility Authority since its inception in 2002 and oversaw the development of its initial project, the 183A toll road in Williamson County, which is one of the first projects in the country to transition to all-electronic, cashless toll collection. Before taking the helm at the Mobility Authority, Heiligenstein served the citizens of Williamson County for 23 years as a public official. Heiligenstein serves on the advisory board of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, and on several other committees and working groups dealing with transportation issues.

“2014 is a crucial year for the advancement of tolling as a proven, reliable method of transportation infrastructure funding,” said Patrick D. Jones, Executive Director and CEO of IBTTA.  “The infrastructure funding debate across the globe continues to highlight the need for tolling and other funding methods to help maintain and reconstruct our highways, bridges and tunnels. Mike, our officers and directors will guide our association during this critical debate.” 

2014 IBTTA Officers who began their terms on January 1st includes:

·      President:                     Mike Heiligenstein, Austin, Texas, Executive Director, Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority

·      1st Vice President:       Javier Rodriguez, Miami, Florida, Executive Director, Miami-Dade Expressway Authority

·      2nd Vice President:     Buddy Croft, Jamestown, Rhode Island, Executive Director, Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority

·      Intl. Vice President:     Emanuela Stocchi, Rome, Italy, Responsible for International Affairs, Associazione Italiana Societa

Concessionarie Autostrade e Trafori

·      Immediate Past President: Rob Horr, Alexandria Bay, NY, Executive Director, Thousand Islands Bridge Authority

Eight directors whose new terms began on January 1st, include:

·       Chris Tomlinson, Executive Director, Georgia State Road and Tollway Authority (term expires at the end of 2014)

·       Chris Waszczuk, Administrator, New Hampshire Department of Transportation, Bureau of Turnpikes, Concord, NH (term expires at the end of 2014)

·       Diane Scaccetti, Executive Director and CEO, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, FL (term expires at the end of 2016)

·       Gerald Carrigan, Executive Director, North Texas Tollway Authority, Plano, TX (term expires at the end of 2017)

·       Andrew Fremier, P.E., Deputy Executive Director, Bay Area Toll Authority, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Oakland, CA (term expires at the end of 2017)

·       Samuel Johnson, Director of Operations, San Diego Association of Government, San Diego, CA (term expires at the end of 2017)

·       Tim Stewart, Executive Director, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, Oklahoma City, OK (term expires at the end of 2017)

·       Cynthia Ward, Director, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Washington, DC (term expires at the end of 2017)