NARP Academic Award

NARP Academic Award

The National Association of Railroad Passengers Academic Award

The NARP Academic Award, established in 2011, is to be given annually to university and college professors who have an excellent record in developing and promoting knowledge about and progress of passenger train transportation in the United States and Canada.  Specifically, the qualified candidate will have played a significant role in one or more of the following activities:

• Making students aware of the intellectual case for passenger train development;
• Developing university or college courses, programs or departments in the areas of railroad systems policy, planning, design and operation, so that it/they contribute meaningfully to the effort to grow the number of graduates entering the railroad industry;
• Performing research and publishing reports, papers and books in the area of passenger rail systems;
• Advancing the case of passenger train investment, both in academic circles and in the public domain. Eligibility criteria will be based on the above listed achievements of the candidates.

 

University of Illinois Professor Presented With National Academic Award for Work on Rail

Release #12-06—April 24, 2012

Updated: Professor Barkan was recognized by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood for his work academic work in the field of rail. 

Washington D.C.—The National Association of Railroad Passengers presented Professor Christopher Barkan with the Association’s Academic Award today, for a career dedicated to promoting the understanding of railroad engineering and advancing rail technology.

Dr. Barkan is the Director of the Railroad Engineering Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; under his leadership, the school has expanded the rail curriculum from one course to six, making it the largest of any North American university.  In 2010, Barkan and his colleagues added a course on High-Speed Rail Engineering—a significant step in the development of an American high-speed rail industry.

“Dr. Barkan has created something special in Urbana-Champaign, and you can see that in the high level of demand for the program’s graduates,” said NARP President Ross Capon.  “The Railroad Engineering Program is the nation’s premier incubator for the next generation of men and women who will keep America’s rail network strong.  Dr. Barkan’s efforts to make clear the need to expand similar capabilities at other universities are helping the nation by enhancing the industry’s ability to meet its huge human resources challenges.”

NARP established its Academic Award in 2011, to recognize university and college professors who have excelled in developing and promoting knowledge of passenger train transportation in the United States and Canada.  This is the second time this award has been presented.

Barkan will be honored at a reception held on Capitol Hill this evening, which will be attended by Congressmen, U.S. Department of Transportation officials, railroad executives, and passenger rail advocates from across the country.

 

Printable Version

University of Pennsylvania’s Vuchic Presented With First Ever Academic Award From Railroad Passengers

Release #11-10—May 3, 2011

Washington D.C.—The National Association of Railroad Passengers awarded Dr. Vukan Vuchic its first ever Academic Award yesterday, for a career dedicated to increasing knowledge about the operations, planning and policies toward passenger trains and other advancements in the field of transportation.

As UPS Foundation Professor of Transportation Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering and Applied Science, Dr. Vuchic provided valuable insight into planning and design of urban transportation systems and the importance of all types of rail services. 

Besides his teaching at Penn, from which he retired last year, he has lectured at about 90 universities, and consulted around the world.   

“Dr. Vuchic’s unflagging enthusiasm in advancing our knowledge of passenger trains, along with transit- and pedestrian-friendly urban planning, has been an inspiration to his students, to his colleagues, and to public officials,” said NARP President Ross Capon.  “America’s passengers are grateful for his lifetime of work.”

Vuchic holds a Ph.D. degree in engineering from the University of California-Berkeley, and an Honorary Doctor’s degree from CNAM University in Paris.  He is a foreign member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts and the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences.  He has authored books “Urban Transit: Operations, Planning, and Economics,” “Urban Transit Systems and Technology,” “Transportation for Livable Cities” and “Transit Operating Manual,” in addition to about 125 articles and 30 technical reports.  Vuchic’s website can be found here.

The conditions of award are listed below.

# # #


The National Association of Railroad Passengers Academic Award

NARP Academic Award is established in 2011 to be given annually to university and college professors who have an excellent record in developing and promoting knowledge about and progress of passenger train transportation in the United States and Canada.  Specifically, the qualified candidate will have played a significant role in one or more of the following activities:

• Making students aware of the intellectual case for passenger train development;
• Developing university or college courses, programs or departments in the areas of railroad systems policy, planning, design and operation, so that it/they contribute meaningfully to the effort to grow the number of graduates entering the railroad industry;
• Performing research and publishing reports, papers and books in the area of passenger rail systems;
• Advancing the case of passenger train investment, both in academic circles and in the public domain.

Eligibility criteria will be based on the above listed achievements of the candidates.

Application Procedure

Any active or retired faculty member of a U.S. or Canadian university or college who merits recognition for accomplishments as described above is encouraged to apply for the NARP Academic Award.
NARP welcomes:

• Nominations from university and college department heads,
• Nominations by academics, professional societies or individuals familiar with passenger rail transportation systems; and
• Self-nominations by qualified individuals.

 

Submissions of more than one nomination by the same institution or individual are welcome.  Nominations should be submitted to NARP at the above address in the form of a typewritten letter of up to two pages.  Additional supporting documents and letters will be accepted.  Nominations are due March 1 of the year in which the award will be presented.