Champions of Change

Champions of Change Blog

  • Building Pedestrian Friendly Environments

    Posted by Bob Sloane on July 30, 2012 at 5:35 PM EDT

    Bob Sloane is being honored as a Champion of Change for his time and effort developing innovative ways to help grow and expand the transportation industry.  

    In the last few years, walking has come to be recognized as one of the best - and certainly the cheapest - methods of maintaining personal health. Both older and younger generations are moving into places where they can walk during their regular daily activities. People are being reminded that a benefit of walking is that you see and experience things you’d miss using other modes of travel. Walkability has even become a way to market real estate.

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  • Funding Transit Projects Responsibly

    Posted by Phillip A. Washington on July 30, 2012 at 4:50 PM EDT

    Phillip A. Washington is being honored as a Champion of Change for his time and effort developing innovative ways to help grow and expand the transportation industry.  

    Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) is known for taking innovative approaches toward completing transit projects. Our Eagle P3 project and Workforce Initiative Now (WIN) program have resulted in the largest transit public-private partnership in the country that includes a unique workforce development program embedded in the project. RTD utilized the expertise of financial and legal advisors to prepare and distribute a Request for Proposals to design, build, finance, operate and maintain two complete commuter rail lines, a segment of another rail line, and a commuter rail maintenance facility, and to supply the commuter rail vehicles needed for the Eagle P3 (Public Private Partnership) project. In just three years, RTD was able to bring this innovative project from concept to contract, last year executing a 34-year agreement with a comprehensive team of private partners.

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  • Becoming the Change

    Posted by Jason Roberts on July 30, 2012 at 4:33 PM EDT

    Jason Roberts is being honored as a Champion of Change for his time and effort developing innovative ways to help grow and expand the transportation industry.  

    Wow. When this all began I never dreamed my work would start a national movement in urban revitalization, or that I would be receiving this incredible Transportation Innovators Champion of Change award from the White House and the Department of Transportation.

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  • Urbal Growth Through Rapid Transit

    Posted by Jacque Whitsitt on July 30, 2012 at 3:46 PM EDT

    Jacque Whitsitt is being honored as a Champion of Change for her time and effort developing innovative ways to help grow and expand the transportation industry.  

    The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) is extremely honored to be chosen as a White House Transportation Innovators Champion of Change. Currently, RFTA is constructing VelociRFTA, the first rural Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in the United States. The VelociRFTA BRT fleet will operate on compressed natural gas (CNG), an affordable, abundant, and domestically produced fuel that will help make RFTA a more energy-independent and sustainable transit organization. While other BRT systems operate in urban areas, which typically span 5-10 miles, VelociRFTA BRT will connect five towns from Glenwood Springs to Aspen, Colorado, along a 42-mile stretch of Colorado State Highway 82 (SH82). SH82 is one of the most congested rural highways in Colorado, and it serves as a critical travel artery for thousands of workers in our area who serve the resort communities of Aspen, Snowmass Village, and Glenwood Springs.

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  • Being an Impact Player

    Posted by Beverly Scott on July 30, 2012 at 3:28 PM EDT

    Beverly Scott is being honored as a Champion of Change for her time and effort developing innovative ways to help grow and expand the transportation industry.  

    I am deeply honored and humbled to be recognized by the White House as a Transportation Innovator Champion of Change.

    For the better part of thirty-plus years, I have been privileged to work at public transportation systems serving diverse communities across the United States. At the end of the day, regardless of size and complexity, geography, economics, race, ethnicity, gender, or age, the availability, overall quality – safety, convenience, choices -- and affordability of our transportation systems and services matters!

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  • Transportation: A Promise for America

    Posted by Susan Martinovich on July 30, 2012 at 2:54 PM EDT

    Susan Martinovich is being honored as a Champion of Change for her time and effort developing innovative ways to help grow and expand the transportation industry.  

    Working in the transportation industry for many years, I know the impact and the promise that a thriving transportation system can provide. Not only does transportation connect each of us with our communities and livelihoods, it provides the lifeline for the daily necessities, goods and services on which our modern society and economy is built. Transportation is vital to each and every one of us, and there are many outstanding and dedicated individuals committed to enhancing the system. I am honored to be among those named as a White House Transportation Innovators Champions of Change.

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