Dennis Christiansen Inducted into Texas Transportation Hall of Honor
Dr. Dennis L. Christiansen, P.E., agency director emeritus, was inducted into the Texas Transportation Hall of Honor at a reception and dinner at Traditions Club in Bryan on Sept. 14. During his 50-year career of transportation leadership and innovation, he served in numerous leadership roles over four decades at TTI, including as agency director for 10 years. He retired in 2016.
Christiansen — described at the event as a pioneer of the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane concept in several Texas cities — conducted groundbreaking research in traffic operations, transportation planning and transit planning. He led, for example, the development of the extensive barrier-separated HOV system in Houston, a system that millions of commuters use daily throughout the country. Since his retirement from TTI, Christiansen has continued to lead in the transportation arena, notably in the creation and operation of the Brazos County Regional Mobility Authority and as chair of the College Station Planning and Zoning Commission.
About 200 guests were welcomed to the event by TTI Senior Research Fellow Katie Turnbull, Christiansen’s longtime colleague at the Institute. Speakers included Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp; David Laney, former chair of the Texas Transportation Commission and former chair of the Board of Amtrak; Michael Behrens, former executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and client services advisor at Volkert Inc.; and Marc Williams, TxDOT’s current executive director. All praised Christiansen’s various contributions to Texas transportation throughout his career, and Texas Rep. John Raney read a state resolution in his honor.
“Dennis, TTI and its analytical muscle guided the work of the Texas 2030 Committee, which proved to be an invaluable contribution to Texas transportation,” said Laney, referring to the TTI-led landmark study assessing the state’s transportation infrastructure and mobility needs from 2009 to 2030.
Williams credited Christiansen and TTI for TxDOT’s reputation as a leader and innovator among its peer state departments of transportation nationwide, a distinction owing partly to the Institute’s strong participation in the TxDOT research program.
“Dennis is the best that there is,” said Sharp. Referring to the honoree’s volunteer community leadership positions, the chancellor noted that Christiansen “took TTI from good to the absolute best and is now providing his expertise throughout the Brazos Valley.”
Christiansen credited the 700-plus employees and retirees at TTI for his professional successes. “I got to work with scores of outstanding people on a multitude of projects over many years,” he said. “The partnership between TTI, TxDOT and The Texas A&M University System is a winning combination for Texas transportation.”
In the course of his career, Christiansen has received numerous awards and recognitions, including being designated by the A&M System as a Regents Fellow and receiving TxDOT’s Road Hand Award, the department’s highest honor bestowed upon individuals who drive the state forward in the area 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.
Christiansen was inducted as the 48th member of the Texas Transportation Hall of Honor, which TTI established in 2000 to recognize select individuals who played pivotal roles in the advancement of transportation in Texas and the nation. Each individual is recognized by a plaque on permanent display in the Hall of Honor located at TTI’s headquarters in Bryan, Texas.
Barry Goodman Inducted into Texas Transportation Hall of Honor
A transformational leader in the Texas transportation industry for more than 45 years, Barry Goodman was inducted into the Texas Transportation Hall of Honor at a reception at the Omni Houston Hotel on Sept. 28. He was recognized for his decades-long career of building effective partnerships to develop, fund and implement innovative transit systems throughout urban and rural Texas.
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 the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston Metro) and served as its first executive director. Goodman was also instrumental in developing Houston’s first regional mobility plan. He began his transit career as a senior legal counsel with the Urban Mass Transit Administration, the predecessor of today’s Federal Transit Administration.
Goodman’s groundbreaking efforts in Houston and surrounding communities — as well as through the Goodman Corporation, the engineering and planning consulting firm he founded in 1980 — have resulted in billions of dollars in transportation-related capital improvements throughout the state, benefitting the Texas transit industry. He has assisted cities in Texas and around the United States in providing creative mobility solutions that 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.
TTI Agency Director Greg Winfree welcomed about 100 guests to the event. Speakers at the ceremony who enumerated Goodman’s career accomplishments were Thomas Lambert, president and CEO of Houston Metro; Douglas Matthews, assistant vice president of government relations at The University of Texas Medical Branch; Robert Heineman, former vice president of planning and design at The Woodlands Development Company; Robert Eury, former president and CEO of Central Houston Inc.; and Jim Webb, CEO of the Goodman Corporation. Andy Icken, chief development officer for the City of Houston, read a tribute letter from former City of Houston Mayor Fred Hofheinz.
“Barry has been a trailblazer, understanding Houston Metro’s vision and mission and working collaboratively with every level of government to move people in this region,” said Lambert. “Because of Barry and others that worked closely with him, we enjoy all the benefits that public transit brings to a community, including less congestion, an improved economy, better air quality and time saved to spend with our families.”
“Going through the era with the people who were instrumental in transforming Houston from a mobility standpoint has been a thrill,” Goodman said. “I appreciate everything that everyone in this room has done to contribute to my body of work and the recognition that I am receiving tonight.”
Overseen by a five-member board comprised of senior transportation professionals, the Texas Transportation Hall of Honor, located at TTI, provides the opportunity to annually recognize exceptional transportation leaders and their significant contributions to the state. Each individual is recognized by a plaque on permanent display in the Hall of Honor at TTI’s headquarters in Bryan, Texas.
TTI’s Ramani Appointed to U.S. EPA Subcommittee
TTI Associate Research Engineer and Division Head of Air Quality, Energy and Health Tara Ramani was recently appointed to serve as a member of the Mobile Sources Technical Review Subcommittee (MSTRS) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Air Act Advisory Committee. As a representative member from an academic institution, Ramani will be joining a list of MSTRS members from EPA; state, local and tribal governments; unions; environmental and public interest groups; trade associations; utilities; and industry.
“I am honored to have been appointed to the MSTRS,” notes Ramani. “I’m looking forward to representing TTI and sharing my knowledge and experience to tackle the important area of mobile source air pollution.”
The MSTRS provides the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee with independent advice and recommendations on the scientific and technical aspects of EPA programs related to mobile-source air pollution and motor vehicles and engine fuels. Through its expert members from diverse stakeholder groups and from its various workgroups, the subcommittee reviews and addresses a wide range of developments, issues and research areas such as emissions modeling, emission standards and standard setting, air toxins, innovative and incentive-based transportation policies, onboard diagnostics, heavy-duty engines, diesel retrofit, and fuel quality.
“Tara’s tremendous work ethic and dedication to advancing research has helped position TTI as a leader in the area of transportation air quality,” says Joe Zietsman, TTI deputy director. “She is very deserving of this appointment and will without a doubt be an invaluable asset to EPA’s MSTRS.”
TTI’s Aldrete and Dixon Selected as 2022–2023 Regents Fellow Service Award Winners
Two senior researchers from TTI have been designated Regents Fellows by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents for 2022–2023. Established in 1988, the award recognizes and honors service, extension and research professionals who have provided exemplary professional service to society that has created large and lasting benefits to Texas and beyond.
Senior Research Scientist Rafael Aldrete and Senior Research Engineer Karen Dixon were among the 11 staff members chosen from the A&M System’s agencies to be designated Regents Fellows.
“It’s difficult for me to express how humbled and grateful I am for this award,” says Aldrete. “I consider myself very lucky to work with my colleagues and serve our sponsors at the A&M System and elsewhere.”
Aldrete, who specializes in transportation management, cross-border transportation and technology applications, and infrastructure finance and economics, helped launch TTI’s office in El Paso in 2006 to expand TTI’s footprint and capabilities. Since then, Aldrete has served as a member of the Texas Border Trade Advisory Committee and as the director of the Center for International Intelligent Transportation Research at TTI.
“It’s this environment that enables us researchers to strive for excellence in service. The A&M System Regents Fellow Service Award gives me purpose and energy to continue doing so,” notes Aldrete.
Dixon serves as associate agency director for TTI’s Transportation Operations Group and has worked on numerous research initiatives for university, federal, national, state and local agencies. Having worked in the transportation field for 38 years and at TTI for 10 years, Dixon has been a key contributor to many high-profile projects, including the development of the United States Highway Safety Manual, the National Academies’ of Sciences Transportation Research Board’s (TRB’s) Access Management Manual, TRB’s Access Management Application Guidelines and more.
“I’m sincerely honored to be selected as a Texas A&M University System Regents Fellow,” says Dixon. “As an employee of TTI, it’s important to note that the work we do has regional and national impacts and cannot be accomplished by a single person. For this reason, I am accepting this honor on behalf of my many hardworking colleagues at TTI.”
