Title
Proclamation recognizing and commending Paul Skoutelas for establishing the Port Authority of Allegheny County as a national model for innovation and modernization and wishing him well on his new endeavor.
Body
WHEREAS, Paul Skoutelas began his career at the Port Authority of Allegheny County in 1980 and served through 1991 in various planning and corporate capacities, including Deputy Executive Director; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Skoutelas returned to Port Authority, the nation's 12th-largest transit system, in 1997 as its Chief Executive Officer and outlined a Six Point Action Plan to make the port Authority the nation's premier transit agency; and
WHEREAS, since Mr. Skoutelas' return, the Port authority has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to modernization and innovation, expanding its Park and Ride system to include 64 lots and over 14,850 parking spaces, becoming the first transit system in the United States to evaluate a side collision avoidance system that warns drivers of potential collisions, reaching innovative service agreements with Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh to promote ridership and create a dedicated source of revenue, and purchasing 390 new low-floor buses and six hybrid electric buses, the first of their kind in the fleet; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Skoutelas has earned the respect and admiration of his colleagues, as shown by his service on the American Public Transit Association's Executive Committee, as well as its Legislative, Procurement and Rail Committees, and his Vice Chairmanship of APTA's Management and Finance Committee;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Allegheny County Council does hereby recognize Paul P. Skoutelas for his impact on this community and its citizens; his skill in administering the Port Authority has only been surpassed by his devotion to the transportation needs of the County's residents. Through his lifetime of dedication and innovative thinking, he has improved the l...
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