Many elected officials talk about the value of public transit or even vote to invest in better transit. A special few are true Transit Champions – consistently, actively, and successfully fighting to bring about the transit changes our communities need. One such leader was recognized today.
TransitCenter is a national foundation that works to improve public transit and urban mobility through grantmaking, research, technical assistance, and public programs in cities across the country. TransitCenter’s annual “Frequencies” Awards recognize outstanding work by transit agencies, workers, and advocates to improve transit service.
This year, out of all elected officials throughout the nation, they chose to recognize Dave Woodward:
“Oakland County (MI) Commissioner David Woodward is the recipient of our Elected Transit Champion award. Transit in the Detroit region has long been hamstrung by low funding levels and a provision that allows individual municipalities to opt-out of receiving service from SMART, the regional transit provider. This has created a patchwork of coverage that is a nightmare for riders to navigate. In 2022, Commissioner Woodward built bi-partisan support to place a millage on the ballot that would increase funding for transit service in Oakland County, and eliminate the opt-out provision. Local advocacy group Transportation Riders United credits Woodward for working with advocates as a “champion behind the scenes,” and commend him for pushing for the millage even when it put him at odds with colleagues. Oakland County voters approved the millage in November, setting the stage for further transit expansion in a region that desperately needs it.”
– TransitCenter 2022 Frequency Awards
TRU echoes TransitCenter in their appreciation of Commissioner Woodward for his dedication to expanding transit throughout all of Oakland County, developing a plan to work with diverse communities across the County to meet each one’s local transit needs. We are proud to have worked with Commissioner Woodward over many years to build the broad support to get to this point, and to have pushed him all spring and summer to work past obstacles to get transit on the countywide ballot. It takes bold leadership and consistent advocacy to make the big changes our communities need.
“This is a very unexpected honor. Thank you for the recognition. So many have worked towards this for so many years. We are all looking forward to what we can accomplish together. I’m still pinching myself. To see voters empowered to make their will known that they want better transit is incredible. I truly believe this will unlock transit potential for the whole region!”
– Dave Woodward, Oakland County Commission Chair and Elected Transit Champion Award winner 2022
As he said at our State of Transit event in January of 2022: “It is time for Oakland County to stand united on transit, which means we are all in. 2022 is going to be a year great things are going to happen.” Then he made it happen. That’s an Elected Transit Champion!
Other TransitCenter Award winners
- Nadine Lee, President & CEO of DART, is the recipient of the Frequency Award for Visionary Leader. This award recognizes the candor and transparency with which Nadine has addressed the operator shortfall crisis.
- Jascha Franklin-Hodge (Chief of Streets, City of Boston) and his team at Boston Transportation Department (BTD) are the recipients of this year’s Frequency for Best Street Upgrade.
- The Frequency for Best Agency Flex goes to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). In September, CDOT canceled two highway widening projects in the Denver region, and reallocated that funding to support transit projects instead. This Frequency Award recognizes CDOT’s decision for providing leadership to other state and local DOTs across the country for how to prioritize sustainability in transportation project decision-making.
- The Frequency Award for Advocacy Campaign of the Year goes to Pittsburghers for Public Transit (PPT) which has led the Fair Fares for a Full Recovery Coalition centered on providing fare reform. The award recognizes PPT’s tireless advocacy in winning a pilot program to test free and affordable fares for low-income residents that reduces bureaucratic obstacles, and ensuring rider awareness of the pilot through a recent education campaign.