The Arizona Department of Transportation's Multimodal Planning Division was recently honored with the 2012 State Leadership Award by the Community Transportation Association of America at its annual conference in Baltimore. The award recognizes one state DOT for its service to transit riders, while providing innovative technical assistance, initiating responsive training, and pushing for timely advocacy at the state and local levels.
"I am extremely proud of ADOT's transit program and its outstanding service to customers and communities across Arizona," said ADOT Director John Halikowski. "Our agency is being recognized not only for our leadership, but also for the planning efforts that go into our transportation programs. Our employees accomplish a great deal with limited funding, which can be challenging, and yet very rewarding, as we help transit providers serve the public with services and programs that stand out on a national scale."
ADOT oversees 21 rural transit programs that operate in small communities and within Native American tribes. The department also manages 116 coordinated mobility programs that serve the elderly, people with disabilities and low-income job training programs. ADOT works directly with these agencies to administer the federal grants they receive, help them build new facilities, provide training, guidance and technical support, help them purchase vehicles and equipment, and plan out routes and services.
"This is a tremendous honor to be recognized for the work ADOT is doing to improve transportation in communities across Arizona," said Mike Normand, director of ADOT's transit programs. "Transportation has a direct impact on the quality of people's lives no matter where they live, and in many cases public transportation provides a vital link for people to access jobs, education and medical services. ADOT strives to work closely with local communities in improving transportation options and connecting Arizona's communities."
ADOT ensures that individual agencies meet all regulations required by the Federal Transit Administration as part of the grant process. Grants for transit projects and services come entirely from federal funds—there are no state funds allocated for transit programs. Each transit agency must provide a local match in order to receive federal grant money.
For more information about ADOT's transit program, visit www.azdot.gov/mpd/Transit_Programs_Grants/.
The Community Transportation Association of America is a national nonprofit organization committed to improving mobility for all people. The association provides informational resources, technical assistance, training and certification, and other services to communities, transportation providers and state departments of transportation to increase mobility and improve the quality of community and public transportation nationwide.
