Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association (GMTMA) held its Annual Meeting and Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Princeton, on Friday, November 1, 2019. During the event, GMTMA recognized 28 businesses with the 2019 New Jersey Smart Workplaces Award and 16 municipalities and schools with the Safe Routes to School Recognition Awards.
Guest speaker at the event was Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti the New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner. A New Jersey native, she has more than 28 years’ experience as a transportation professional, and 34 years in government service. She has extensive executive, operational, and planning knowledge. Commissioner Gutierrez-Scaccetti is behind NJDOT’s Commitment to Communities initiative to foster good relationships, listening and being responsive, making changes when warranted, and by embracing the concept that NJDOT is not just an agency that builds roads and bridges, but is truly a customer-service agency. At the GMTMA Luncheon, Commissioner Gutierrez-Scaccetti recognized the role of the TMAs in the region by saying: “As you continue to put your programs together, as you continue to build that new bike/ped, as you continue to offer last mile transportation for so many, as you continue to address the needs of our seniors and those who have mobility issues based on no fault of their own, you do God’s work, you get people where they have to go, to the doctor, to some type of socialization. That is huge and you become unsung heroes for that part of the work that you do. (…) without the TMAs, without folks like you who are committed to take that micro-version of DOT , micro-version of transit and help us build those routes, help us build that network for our residents . Our communities, our neighborhoods – then NJ would be a much tougher place.”
NJDOT Commissioner Gutierrez-Scaccetti speaking at the GMTMA Annual Luncheon
GMTMA’s Executive Director Cheryl Kastrenakes also spoke at the event and announced the completion of GMTMA’s trail plan study. Kastrenakes stated that the plan’s goal was to “create a safe low stress option to motorized travel,” and showed the proposed long distance regional trail network “that would allow users of all ages an abilities to travel to the many destinations in the region.”
Kastrenakes and Board President Jack Kanarek then recognized businesses with the New Jersey Smart Workplaces Awards and Municipalities and Schools with the Safe Routes to School Awards
Each year, GMTMA recognizes employers who demonstrate leadership by providing and promoting quality commuter benefits to their employees, therefore reducing congestion and improving air quality with the prestigious New Jersey Smart Workplaces Awards.
The Safe Routes to School Awards are given to schools and municipalities for their commitment and support of the Safe Routes to School program.
NJSW Awardees: Rider University, REI Princeton, Princeton University, Princetel, Inc., McMahon, ETS, BMS, Albridge, Bank of America, A1-Limousine, Boston Properties, Municipality of Princeton, and NJDOT
The 2019 NJSW awardees are:
Platinum Level: A-1 Limousine Inc., Albridge an affiliate of Pershing LLC, BNY Mellon, Amazon, Bank of America, Bloomberg L.P., Boston Properties, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Educational Testing Service, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Lakehurst, Mathematica Policy Research, McMahon Associates Inc., Munich Re America, Inc., Municipality of Princeton NJ Department of Transportation, NRG, Princetel, Inc., Princeton University, Rider University, SRI International, The College of New Jersey.
Gold Level: Creative Click Media, Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center, REI Princeton
Silver Level: Greater Mercer TMA, Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Whole Earth Center
Bronze Level: Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceuticals
GMTMA Executive Director Cheryl Kastrenakes, Sustainable Princeton Molly Jones with the AQP Award, Mayor Liz Lempert with the Gold Safe Routes to School Recognition, Deanna Stockton with NJSW, Jeffrey Grosser, and Jenny Ludmer
The Safe Routes to School Awardees are:
GOLD SRTS Recognition
Municipalities: Borough of Bay Head, Lawrence Township, Point Pleasant Borough, Municipality of Princeton, City of Trenton
Schools: Nellie F. Bennett Elementary School, Ocean Road Elementary School, Memorial Middle School
SILVER SRTS Recognition
Municipalities: Borough of Hightstown, West Windsor, Plainsboro
Schools: Ben Franklin Elementary School, Slackwood Elementary School, Lawrence Intermediate School
BRONZE SRTS Recognition
Municipalities: Ewing Township
Schools: John Witherspoon Middle School
In addition to the New Jersey Smart Workplaces award, Sustainable Princeton was also awarded the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission Air Quality Partnership Award.
Congratulations to all the winners!