Texas A&M institute seeks nominees for Richards crossing safety award

The Texas A&M Transportation Institute is seeking nominees for the Hoy A. Richards Career Achievement Award, which recognizes an individual for exemplary achievements in helping to improve grade crossing safety during their career.

Nominees should have produced notable, tangible results; participated in technology programs or processes to improve crossing safety (i.e., technologies that have been implemented in the industry, published works, committee service, etc.); helped foster and enhance relationships within the industry and with regulatory agencies; and mentored others in crossing safety.

Nominations will be accepted until Aug. 2. The institute will present the award Nov. 5 during its 2013 National Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Training Conference at the Hilton Fort Worth.

Every two years, a committee of industry professionals selects an individual to win the award, which is named after Hoy A. Richards, a former Texas A&M Transportation Institute senior research scientist and a crossing expert for more than 40 years.

"His enthusiasm and persistence for promoting safety at highway-rail grade crossings were instrumental in the formation of the Railroad Highway Grade Crossing Committee at the Transportation Research Board and the ITS User Service 30 for Highway-Railroad Intersections," institute officials said in a nomination announcement.

Questions about nominations can be directed to Jessica Franklin, the institute's administrative coordinator for multi-modal freight transportation programs, at 979-845-5817 or j-franklin@tamu.edu.