2021

Dennis L. Christiansen

Dr. Dennis L. Christiansen, P.E., achieved a 50-year career in transportation leadership and innovation. For over four decades, he served in numerous leadership roles at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, including as Agency Director for 10 years, retiring in 2016 as Agency Director Emeritus.

Christiansen conducted groundbreaking research in the areas of traffic operations, transportation planning and transit planning. He pioneered the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane concept in several Texas cities and was a leader in developing the extensive barrier-separated HOV system in Houston.

He has received numerous awards and recognitions, including being designated by the Texas A&M University System as a Regents Fellow and receiving a Road Hand Award from the Texas Department of Transportation. He has been involved in many professional organizations and served as International President of the Institute of Transportation Engineers, President of the Council of University Transportation Centers, and President of the Research and Education Division of the American Road and Transportation Builders Association.

Since his retirement, Christiansen has been a leader in the creation and operation of the Brazos County Regional Mobility Authority.

Barry M. Goodman

Barry M. Goodman has been a transformational leader in the Texas transportation industry for more than 45 years. He has a history of building effective partnerships to develop, fund and implement innovative transit systems throughout urban and rural Texas. His groundbreaking efforts have resulted in $2 billion in transportation-related capital improvements throughout the state, benefitting the transit industry and surrounding community.

Former Houston Mayor Fred Hofheinz recruited Goodman in the mid-1970s to significantly upgrade transit services in the city. As head of Houston’s Office of Public Transportation, Goodman was instrumental in leading a coalition of Texas cities to draft legislation that established the Texas Public Transit Trust Fund. He was a key founder of Houston METRO and served as its first Executive Director. Goodman was also instrumental in developing Houston’s first regional mobility plan.

Since establishing The Goodman Corporation in 1980, he has assisted cities in Texas and around the United States in providing creative mobility solutions, which have enhanced public transit and air quality, and created economic development. His life’s work has been “connecting capital to communities” for the betterment of all.