- Phil Thompson Will Lead Kapsch North America Sales and Business Development
- New York Public Employees Union Calls For Legislation To Improve Highway Workers' Safety
- West Virginia Turnpike Turns 70 This Month
- These are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.
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Phil Thompson Will Lead Kapsch North America Sales and Business Development
Today, Kapsch TrafficCom announced that Phil Thompson has been appointed Vice President of Sales and Business Development for North America. Commenting on the appointment, JB Kendrick, President of Kapsch TrafficCom North America, said, “Phil’s proven leadership and deep industry expertise make him a perfect fit to drive growth and innovation in our sales and business development efforts. We are excited about the fresh perspective he will bring to our team and look forward to the impact he will make in shaping the future of intelligent transportation solutions in North America.”
Mr. Thompson has more than 20 years’ experience in the IoT industry, with leadership roles in sales operations, marketing, and business development for firms including Crestron, Control4, Honeywell, and Lexmark. He will succeed Dan Toohey, who has been the North America sales and business development leader since 2021. Mr. Toohey announced in May that he will retire at the end of this year.
Appointments-Promotions-Retirements KapschNew York Public Employees Union Calls For Legislation To Improve Highway Workers' Safety
WIVT reports, the Civil Service Employees Association, one of New York State’s largest labor organizations, has called on Governor Kathy Hochul (D) and lawmakers “to make the protection of highway workers a top priority as they near the legislative season.” The union wants existing laws strengthened and new traffic offense penalties introduced.
A union local president commented, “Every day, CSEA members work in dangerous conditions, often within mere feet of speeding traffic. . . . It is time for lawmakers to recognize the growing threat and take meaningful steps to protect [highway workers].”
Two recent events precipitated the call for action. On November 4, a New York Thruway Authority maintenance supervisor was struck and killed while working on I-90. NYSDOT subsequently released a video showing the narrow escape of a worker when a box truck slammed into maintenance vehicles parked on an I-81 shoulder in Broome County.
Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Maintenance Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Safety (Includes COVID-19 Impacts) New York New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) New York State Thruway Authority Transportation And Infrastructure Workforce IssuesWest Virginia Turnpike Turns 70 This Month
WCBC Radio notes that the West Virginia Turnpike opened to traffic 70 years ago, on November 8, 1954. The station marks the anniversary by publishing a state news release that touts the 88-mile tollway’s contribution to mobility and economic development over the decades.
The release also looks back at the turnpike’s origins, observing that it was built “during a time of optimism and forward-thinking for the state. With limited infrastructure in the mountainous regions, state leaders recognized the need for a modern highway that could accommodate increasing traffic and facilitate economic development. . . . The highway was built using funds from the sale of bonds, a move that was seen as innovative at the time. Despite the challenges posed by West Virginia’s rugged terrain, construction crews worked tirelessly to build the road, overcoming significant engineering hurdles to carve a path through the Appalachian Mountains.”
“At its completion in 1954, the Turnpike was hailed as a feat of engineering, featuring a series of tunnels, bridges, and curves that were not only functional but also scenic. With an initial cost of approximately $200 million, the project was one of the largest of its kind in the country at the time.”
West Virginia West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) West Virginia Parkways Authority (West Virginia Turnpike)These are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.
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