Metro News Release

For immediate release: June 1, 2010

Metro and the Accessibility Advisory Committee seek nominations for 2010 Richard W. Heddinger Accessible Transportation Award

Award honors person, organization for helping to improve accessible public transit

The Metro Department of Access Services and the Accessibility Advisory Committee are seeking nominations for the 2010 Richard W. Heddinger Accessible Transportation Award. The award honors a person or organization whose efforts have resulted in significant improvements to reliable and accessible public transportation services for people with disabilities.

Nominations are being accepted through Wednesday, June 30, and the award recipient will be announced later this summer. The award honors former Accessibility Advisory Committee Chair Richard W. Heddinger for his lifelong commitment to accessible public transportation and his tireless devotion to providing access for all citizens of the Washington metropolitan area.

Nominations are encouraged and can include:
• Disability advocates who have worked to support successful efforts to improve accessibility in Metrorail and Metrobus services;
• Organizations that have made significant efforts to inform and educate the public about Metro’s accessibility issues and solutions;
• Employees of Metro or other local public transit agencies in the region who excel at their jobs and go above and beyond the call of duty to enhance the reliability and accessibility of Metrorail and Metrobus services; and
• Advisory committee members who have contributed long-term, steadfast quality leadership to enhance Metro’s accessibility in the region.

To obtain a nomination form and additional information, contact Rikki Epstein in the Metro Office of ADA Programs at 202-962-1125 (TTY 202-962-2033) or e-mail repstein@wmata.com.

News release issued at 10:57 am, June 1, 2010.