FTA 23-03
Tuesday, May 20, 2003
Contact: Kristi Clemens
Tel.: (202) 744-3570
Federal Transit Administrator Receives National Award for Advocacy on Behalf of Rural Public Transportation
PHILADELPHIA – Jennifer L. Dorn, Administrator of the Federal Transit
Administration (FTA), received the prestigious 2003 Dr. Aaron Henry Award
today from the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) for her
advocacy of rural public transportation for those with disabilities and those
who live in rural communities
Charles Carr with the Mississippi Department of Transportation presented the award to Dorn during the association’s Annual EXPO in Philadelphia, PA. “Administrator Dorn’s strong commitment to increasing public transportation in rural communities and her efforts to facilitate greater rural transit coordination have made a tremendous difference for millions of Americans throughout the country,” said Dale J. Marsico, CTAA’s Executive Director.
“I am deeply honored to receive the Community Transportation Association of America’s 2003 Dr. Aaron Henry Award,” said Administrator Dorn. “The Bush Administration is committed to transportation as a strategic investment that strengthens the economy, protects the environment and maximizes the freedom of mobility for all Americans. To that end, Transportation Secretary Mineta and I are committed to promoting independence and opportunity through the successful coordination of transportation services among human service agencies and transportation providers.”
CTAA created the Dr. Aaron Henry award in memory of one of the organization’s founders. Dr. Henry, one of the nation’s leaders in the struggle for equal opportunity and civil rights during the 1960’s, was a strong advocate for rural collaboration in an effort to improve services and opportunities for all Americans.
As part of Administrator Dorn’s efforts to increase rural public transportation and coordination, the Bush Administration’s surface transportation reauthorization proposal, SAFETEA, includes the following: increasing rural funding; creating a new formula program to reduce transportation-related barriers to employment for persons with disabilities; and expanding successful coordination of transportation services among human service and transportation providers.
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