Director of Strategic Initiatives John Levin is the recipient of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Transportation Studies 2021 Richard P. Braun Distinguished Service Award. The award is presented annually to a transportation professional who has shown outstanding leadership in research and innovation.
Levin has served as the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the past seven years. The department’s responsibilities include strategic planning, research, performance management, shared mobility and technology management. He previously served as the Director of Service Development.
Accepting the award at a virtual event on May 19, Levin said he was honored by the recognition and grateful for the partnership between Metro Transit staff and researchers at the University of Minnesota.
“I have long been impressed by the incredible research community that we have in our region and our state,” Levin said. “During my time at Metro Transit, it has been rewarding to see this research put into practice in many areas, including service and facility planning, fare collection, decision support and more.”
In the future, Levin said the immense challenges facing transit and transportation will require an even greater commitment to research and innovation. “I’m inspired to keep working as hard as ever and am really happy to be part of such a strong and supportive community,” he said.