Metro-North wins Brunel Award for Overall Excellence in Railroad Design

The United States Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, presented the prestigious 2011 Jury Prize for Overall Design Excellence from The Watford Group and The Center for Industrial Design in Transportation to New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority Metro-North Railroad at the Brunel Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. Metro-North was the first American railroad to win this coveted award in its 26-year history. Forty-three railways from 15 countries on three continents entered 150 projects in this year's international competition. The Brunel Awards are open to all passenger and freight railways throughout the world and recognize and promote the best in railway design and engineering. "As we work to rebuild our transportation systems and create jobs, it is more essential than ever that we recognize the innovative engineers, architects and designers who make new rail projects possible," said Secretary LaHood. "These projects, including eight right here in the United States, all exemplify the idea that when we invest in transportation, we lay the groundwork for a new century of economic development, opportunity and growth." "Considering the caliber of the competition, it was certainly a thrilling and rewarding experience," said Metro-North President Howard Permut, who accepted the Jury Prize from LaHood. In describing the selection, the report of the Awards Jury stated: "Metro-North carries the most passengers every year on the American continent and has undergone both extraordinary changes of company culture as well as the shift to incorporation of design as a strategic business tool." The Jury Prize is only eligible to a railroad that enters project in all five categories, which Metro-North did, winning first place in the "Freight and Railway Support Buildings" category for its Croton-Harmon Locomotive and Coach Shops. These two 21st century facilities are designed for a 21st century fleet, with ultra-modern equipment maintenance capability that provides employees with a safe, clean work environment. They represent the largest capital and engineering project ever undertaken by Metro-North.