Longtime North Texas transit executive Gary Thomas, the former president and executive director of Dallas Area Rapid Transit, and current Transit & Rail Market director at H.W. Lochner, was inducted into the Texas Transportation Hall of Honor in October.
The prestigious honor, established by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of transportation in Texas via their dedication, vision, and leadership.
“I am deeply honored to be recognized by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute and to join the ranks of esteemed individuals who have contributed to the advancement of transportation in our great state,” Thomas said in a statement. “I have been fortunate to work alongside a dedicated team at DART, as well as countless partners, who share a vision for a more accessible and interconnected Texas.”
Lochner said that under Thomas’ guidance, DART, which serves the North Texas and Dallas-Fort Worth metro areas, has flourished as one of the nation’s most innovative and efficient public transportation systems. His 20 years of leadership transformed the agency into a model for sustainable urban mobility, promoting economic development, enhancing accessibility, and reducing environmental impacts, Lockner said.
Lochner said that friends and colleagues recounted Thomas’ accomplishments over the span of his career. They included Tim McKay, Jacobs senior program manager; Pamela Dunlop Gates, DART board of directors, 2007-2017; and Paul Skoutelas, American Public Transportation Association president and CEO.
Thomas joins the ranks of other Hall of Honor recipients including Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lady Bird Johnson, and 48 other exceptional leaders who have improved the lives of countless Texans and set an example for the entire industry.
Thomas is a longtime leader of transformational change in the transit industry and served from 2001 to 2021 as president and executive director of Dallas Area Rapid Transit.
He was a 2022 inductee of the American Public Transportation Association’s Hall of Fame, and currently serves as the Transit & Rail Market Director for Lochner, a leading provider of infrastructure planning and engineering services.
The Texas A&M Transportation Institute, an agency of the State of Texas and member of The Texas A&M University System, is one of the leading transportation research institutes in the nation. For more than 70 years, it has developed practical, innovative, and sustainable solutions to improve the movement of people, data and goods through research, education, and technology transfer.
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