Direct Access Projects honored by National Academies of Science
Sound Transit's High-Occupancy-Vehicle Direct Access Ramps in Bellevue and Lynnwood today received a prestigious award from the Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Academies of Science. The 2005 Outstanding Achievement in Project Planning and Development Award was given to Agnes Govern, Sound Transit's Director of Capital Projects at this week's TRB's annual HOV conference in Houston, TX.
The award citation noted Sound Transit's "development of strong partnerships with the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Washington State Department of Transportation, Washington State Transportation Improvement Board and the Cities of Bellevue and Lynnwood to make these projects a success."
"Your (Sound Transit's) development of an Executive Sponsor Team ensured that taxpayer's investments in these facilities were protected. Your success can be traced to your Director-level team's development of a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding outlining clear roles and responsibilities for all participating agencies. This team also provided a problem solving forum as well as serving to minimize project surprises and streamline all coordination between the various agencies," the citation continued.
"I sent Agnes Govern to personally accept this award because it was her vision and leadership that created the concept of the Executive Sponsor Team," said Sound Transit CEO Joni Earl.
"The success of all our projects is tied to collaboration and partnerships," said Govern. "This award is not only for Sound Transit but for all our partners," she added.
Sound Transit was the primary funding agency for these HOV access ramps - the first such ramps in the state - and led the efforts for both from the planning and development stages through design and construction. The Bellevue HOV ramp, which provides direct access to the Bellevue Transit Center, was the centerpiece of a major reconfiguration of access between I-405 and downtown Bellevue. It was completed a year ahead of schedule and more than $25 million under the project's baseline budget. The Lynnwood project provides direct access to the major transit connection point in South Snohomish County and was also completed ahead of schedule (by six months) and $5 million under the original budget.
The award citation noted Sound Transit's "development of strong partnerships with the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Washington State Department of Transportation, Washington State Transportation Improvement Board and the Cities of Bellevue and Lynnwood to make these projects a success."
"Your (Sound Transit's) development of an Executive Sponsor Team ensured that taxpayer's investments in these facilities were protected. Your success can be traced to your Director-level team's development of a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding outlining clear roles and responsibilities for all participating agencies. This team also provided a problem solving forum as well as serving to minimize project surprises and streamline all coordination between the various agencies," the citation continued.
"I sent Agnes Govern to personally accept this award because it was her vision and leadership that created the concept of the Executive Sponsor Team," said Sound Transit CEO Joni Earl.
"The success of all our projects is tied to collaboration and partnerships," said Govern. "This award is not only for Sound Transit but for all our partners," she added.
Sound Transit was the primary funding agency for these HOV access ramps - the first such ramps in the state - and led the efforts for both from the planning and development stages through design and construction. The Bellevue HOV ramp, which provides direct access to the Bellevue Transit Center, was the centerpiece of a major reconfiguration of access between I-405 and downtown Bellevue. It was completed a year ahead of schedule and more than $25 million under the project's baseline budget. The Lynnwood project provides direct access to the major transit connection point in South Snohomish County and was also completed ahead of schedule (by six months) and $5 million under the original budget.
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Sound Transit plans, builds and operates regional transit systems and services to improve mobility for Central Puget Sound.