Cooperative Research Programs Celebrated

A group of nine people stands indoors as A C R P Manager Marci A. Greenberger at the center holds a 2025 Award of Excellence presented by the Michigan Aeronautics Commission and Michigan Department of Transportation. — ACRP Manager Marci A. Greenberger (*center*) accepts a 2025 Award of Excellence from the Michigan Aeronautics Commission and Michigan Department of Transportation (DOT). The award honors the program’s 20 years of innovation and impact. Joining her are (*left to right*) Casey Ries, Gerald R. Ford International Airport (Grand Rapids, Michigan); Stephanie Ward, Mead and Hunt; Laura Mester, Michigan DOT; Bryan Budds, Aeronautics Director, Michigan DOT; and Michigan Aeronautics Commission members Brian R. Smith, Greg Setla, Rick Fiddler (Vice Chair), and Russ Kavalhuna.

Two units in TRB’s Cooperative Research Programs marked milestones this past fall. On September 10, the Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) kicked off its 20th anniversary by receiving a 2025 Award of Excellence from the Michigan Aeronautics Commission and Michigan Department of Transportation (DOT). The award, presented to ACRP Manager Marci A. Greenberger at the agencies’ 2025 meeting in Bellaire, Michigan, recognizes “two decades of transformative contributions to the aviation industry.”

In a joint statement, the Michigan Aeronautics Commission and Michigan DOT announced the award winners and elaborated on those contributions. “Through rigorous research, community collaboration, and practical innovation, ACRP has empowered aviation with tools, knowledge, and solutions that enhance airport operations, safety, and sustainability,” the announcement noted. The statement also cited ACRP’s “enduring impact and continued commitment to advancing the future of aviation.”

The anniversary salute continued on September 26 at the annual ACRP Day. The virtual event featured a panel discussion and opportunities for participants to share success stories about implementing research-based practices to improve operations, safety, and efficiency. Joining Greenberger on the panel were

Marianne Csaky, Chair of the ACRP Oversight Committee.
Augustus “Gus” Hudson, Deputy General Manager of Airport Operations for Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Erin Cooke, Sustainability and Resilience Director at San Francisco International Airport.
Carlos Ruiz, Director of Commercial Management at Cincinnati–Northern Kentucky International Airport.
Liz Huang, Manager of the Aviation Planning Division at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Hear from other industry practitioners about the impact of ACRP’s work in this 20th anniversary video.

Transit Solutions

On October 1, the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) featured a special event at this year’s TCRP Day: a live, in-person taping of the Transit Unplugged podcast with host Paul Comfort, Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer for Modaxo America, a global transit technology company, as well as a panel of transportation professionals. The panel included Matthew W. Daus, Partner and Chair of the Transportation Practice Group at Windels Marx, a New York City–based law firm; Art Guzzetti, Vice President for Policy at APTA; Sarah Meyer, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; and Jamaal Schoby, Senior Program Officer for TCRP. The participants explored the critical role of research in shaping the future of public transit—and TCRP’s crucial role in delivering actionable research on subjects ranging from fare policy to safety to workforce development that affect millions of people daily.

Listen to the Transit Unplugged episode “These Research Reports Could Change Transit Forever,” taped at TCRP Day and released on November 5, 2025.