(Washington, D.C.) – Dennis L. Christiansen, deputy director of the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), is the 2002 recipient of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s (ARTBA) S.S. Steinberg Award.
Created in honor of S.S. Steinberg, the founding president of ARTBA’s Research & Education Division (RED), this award recognizes an individual who has made remarkable contributions to transportation education. It was presented January 13 during the division’s annual meeting at the Transportation Research Board in Washington, D.C.
Christiansen, a professional engineer, has been a member of the TTI staff for 31 years. As deputy director, he is responsible for research in the areas of transportation operations, planning and economics. TTI is the largest university-based transportation research center in the United States.
He has specialized in multi-modal research with an emphasis on identifying cost-effective approaches for addressing urban mobility concerns. Christiansen has been a principal investigator on several major federally-supported research projects that have addressed the role of rail transit in Texas cities, roadway operations and design, and the design and operation of bus transfer centers and park-and-ride lots. He is an internationally recognized expert in the planning, design, operation and evaluation of high-occupancy vehicle lanes, a common feature in large urban areas across the nation.
Christiansen serves on the ARTBA Board of Directors and is immediate past president of ARTBA’s RED. He is currently president of the Council of University Transportation Centers, an association representing over 60 university-based transportation research organizations. In 1996, Christiansen served as International President of the International Institute of Transportation Engineers.
Colleagues say they value, honor and appreciate Christiansen’s service and leadership in transportation. “Dennis’ leadership has had and continues to have a national impact that has brought distinction not only to him but to TTI, as well,” said TTI Director, Herbert H. Richardson. During his career, Christiansen has received many professional awards, including the Transportation Research Board’s “Fred Burgraff Award.” He was also named the “Transportation Engineer of the Year” by the Texas Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers.
ARTBA, which was founded in 1902, represents the U.S. transportation construction industry before Congress, the White House, news media and general public.