Mayor Mark Green Receives Award: Elected Official of the Year
Innovative Leadership Recognized by California Transportation Foundation
Union City, CA – May 23, 2012: Today, Union City Mayor Mark Green receives the Elected Official of the Year Award by the California Transportation Foundation. The annual honor recognizes one elected official who has demonstrated leadership excellence in California transportation, and considers nominees from throughout the state who are involved in all modes of transportation. The award will be presented in Sacramento during a luncheon ceremony today.
Mayor Green currently serves as Chair of the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC) and has been a champion of transportation projects and transportation funding for all of the 19 years he has served as Union City Mayor. His notable accomplishments include streamlining operations through the consolidation of three Alameda County transportation agencies, securing funds for major regional projects, and delivering significant cost savings to taxpayers via operational efficiencies and strategic planning.
Under his guidance since 2009, Mayor Green led the successful merger of the Alameda County Congestion Management Agency (ACCMA), the Alameda County Transportation Authority (ACTA) and the Alameda County Transportation Improvement Authority (ACTIA). The newly formed ACTC eliminated redundancies in regional transportation governance, and created an environment where key projects can be completed more rapidly and at lower cost. This innovative idea immediately improved the administration of funds and delivery of projects within the county. Over $3 M in savings was reflected in ACTC’s first operating budget, which directly translates to more funding available for transportation initiatives.
“It is always exciting to see transportation improvements take shape,” said Mayor Green, who has supported transportation improvements on I-80, I-238, I-580, I-680, I-880, Route 84 and Route 92, along with local street rehabilitation, bike and pedestrian lanes, paratransit, and other various transit projects. “Smoother traffic flow improves the quality of life for Bay Area residents, especially those who commute to work every day,” he said.
Notable projects completed in 2011 include the southbound I-680 Sunol Express Lane Project (the first toll lane in Northern California), the Union City Intermodal Station (a major remodel of the existing BART Station and integration of a new transit-oriented development). Other important projects under construction include the BART Warm Springs Extension and BART Oakland Airport Connector. Another major construction milestone in Alameda County was achieved in late 2011 when the east and west sides of the Caldecott Fourth Bore tunnel met, putting congestion relief in sight for 160,000 daily commuters.
Art Dao, Executive Director of the ACTC believes that Mayor Green has been an effective champion of transportation projects through his dedication to obtaining the funding needed to build them. “Mark has been a leader in garnering tremendous support for Alameda County’s Measure B, a $7.7 Billion transportation plan that will go before voters in 2012,” said Dao.
Mayor Green, who is a candidate for California State Assembly District 20, feels a deep concern about California’s aging infrastructure, which includes such elements as deteriorating highways, levees, gas lines, sewers, and water supplies. Additionally, he plans to work diligently to bring additional improvements to regional transportation, protect the environment, and get the state’s educational system back on track.
In addition to his role as Mayor of Union City and Chair of ACTC, Mayor Green currently serves on the following boards and commissions:
- Association of Bay Area Governments (Immediate Past President)
- Metropolitan Transportation Commissioner
- East Bay Economic Development Alliance
- Alameda County Council of Mayors
- Waste Management Authority of Alameda County Board Member
The award will be presented to Mayor Green today, at the 23rd Annual Transportation Awards Luncheon in Sacramento. The California Transportation Foundation is the leading charitable transportation organization in the state, and supports programs such as: scholarships for students planning a career in transportation; financial assistance to those injured on the job and to the families of transportation workers who died; remembrance and recognition of transportation service; career development, awards and recognition.
About Mayor Mark Green
Mark Green, who has served as Mayor of Union City for 19 years, is an independent candidate for California State Assembly District 20, which covers his home town of Union City, as well as Hayward, northern Fremont, Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, Sunol, and other unincorporated areas. Mayor Green has extensive regional and local government experience and will bring a practical, independent voice to Sacramento. He brings 20 years of consecutive public service as an appointed or elected official, which makes him the most qualified candidate to represent District 20 in Sacramento.
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