Research Triangle Park, N.C. – For the third consecutive year, a member of the Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) Board of Trustees has received the Goodmon Award for Exemplary Regional Leadership by an Elected Official.  Dr. Alice Gordon, Board Chair, was presented the award by Leadership Triangle on Monday in recognition of her outstanding efforts to promote regional thinking. 

Dr. Gordon has been an Orange County Commissioner for 16 years and has been a longtime champion and distinguished leader in the areas of environmental protection and regional transportation.  Her vision and leadership propelled the creation of the Lands Legacy Program, an Orange County initiative that has protected over 1700 acres of farmland, park land and critical natural areas.  Lands Legacy was the first comprehensive county land acquisition program in North Carolina.   

Alice Gordon has been at the forefront of regional transportation leadership for a decade, and has served as an officer or executive committee member of several regional boards, including the Durham–Chapel Hill–Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC), a multi-jurisdictional policy board of elected officials directing urban transportation planning in the western part of the Triangle.  Dr. Gordon chaired the DCHC in 1996 and 1997, and is currently serving as vice-chair.  

She also serves as the Chair of the Triangle Transit Authority.  Earlier this year, she spearheaded the creation of the Hillsborough – Chapel Hill bus route, a significant step for intercity connectivity and cooperation.  TTA and Orange Public Transportation work together to provide the service. 

The Goodmon Award, named for Capital Broadcasting President and CEO, James F. Goodmon, annually recognizes a Triangle elected official who has demonstrated leadership on regional issues for the advancement of the Triangle. 

In 2004, TTA Board member and current Chair of the Durham County Commissioners, Ellen Reckhow, was the Goodmon Award recipient and in 2005, TTA Board member and Town of Chapel Hill Councilmember, Bill Strom, received the award.  Including Dr. Gordon’s recognition, members of the TTA Board of Trustees have received the Goodmon Award for the last three years.

TTA is a regional public service provider, offering a wide variety of transit and vanpool services to North Carolina's greater Triangle Region and outlying counties.  Bus service is available to Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Garner, Hillsborough, RDU International Airport, Research Triangle Park and Raleigh.  The Triangle Transit Authority also    provides commuter resources and hosts GoTriangle.org, the on-line resource for public transportation in the Triangle.

TTA is the implementation agency responsible for carrying out a regional plan to build a rail transit system with stations connecting Durham, RTP, Cary and Raleigh, with shuttles linking RDU International Airport and Research Triangle Park. For more information, visit www.rideTTA.org or call (919) 549-9999.