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The national Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) recently presented Sound Transit the Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award for promoting opportunities for women and minorities in the transportation industry.

The agency was recognized for creating opportunities for disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs), Sound Transit officials said in a prepared statement. For example, of the contracts invoiced for the University Link light-rail project, 28 percent were performed by DBE firms. Another 13 percent were performed by small businesses, for a total of 41 percent of contract work done by DBEs and small firms.

The award also recognized Sound Transit for developing a diverse workforce: 22 percent of employees are minorities and 46 percent are women. In addition, 22 percent of the agency’s managers are minorities and 44 percent, women.

“Sound Transit has worked with tireless dedication to bring training, contracting and other business opportunities to the region’s diverse communities,” said Leslie Jones, Sound Transit’s diversity program manager. “Our organization has established an exemplary track record of hiring women and people of color, and continues to actively facilitate the participation of small and disadvantaged businesses in construction projects.”