South West Transit Association (SWTA) honored U.S. Congressman Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) with the organization’s 2017 Legislator of the Year Award. Even on a cold snowy morning more than 50 transit leaders from across SWTA’s eight-state region braved winter storm Stella to attended the ceremony and breakfast.
Congressman Ed Perlmutter was honored for his untiring support of transit, strong voice for all Coloradans and his signature event — Commuting with the Congressman, where constituents have the opportunity to talk with Congressman Perlmutter during their daily commute. Gary Thomas, president, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and Elena Wilken, executive director, Colorado Association of Transit Agencies presented the award to the representative.
In a private ceremony, Congressman Perlmutter met with Tina Fransone, board director, Denver RTD, David Genova, general manager and CEO, Denver RTD and Sherry Ellebracht, government relations officer, Denver RTD, to receive the award.
“I am honored to be recognized by the South West Transit Association with this award,” said Congressman Perlmutter. “My constituents are always looking for more efficient ways to travel to and from work and throughout the metro area. I will continue working to ensure we have strong transit choices in our transportation system so Coloradans can move more freely across the state.”
In a letter to the SWTA Award Review Board, CASTA wrote: “Representative Perlmutter deserves this award for three reasons. First, he and his staff have been untiring in their support of transit in his district and for all of Colorado. In addition to his funding and regulatory work for the RTD-Denver FasTracks program, he also works on behalf of the smaller transit providers such as Lakewood Rides that provides critical health care and social visits for the residents of his district. Second, whenever CASTA needs a voice in Washington DC to represent the entire state, Ed lends us his knowledgeable and dedicated staff. He knows Colorado, and he knows Colorado transportation, and understand that we must all work together to thrive as a state. Finally, Ed has hit upon the unusual and very effective approach to meeting with his constituents — last year he hosted a Commuting with the Congressman event – essentially a town-hall meeting on the train! This brought him in touch with people in his district as they go about their daily routine”.
The SWTA Legislator of the Year award is bestowed upon a member of the House of Representatives or the Senate who has significantly advanced the interests of public transportation in the previous year. SWTA members have been meeting for the Annual Bullfeathers Breakfast at Bullfeathers, DC, for the last 34 years to present the award.
