Frank Turner Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Transportation

The Award recognizes lifetime achievements in transportation. It should go to an individual who is retired or nearing retirement from full-time, regular employment as a transportation professional and who at a minimum has achieved a distinguished career in transportation; professional prominence; and a distinctive, broadly recognized contribution to transportation policy, administration, or research.

The Frank Turner Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Transportation is a biennial award established in 1998 by a group of friends, colleagues, and admirers of Frances C. (Frank) Turner to honor him and to commemorate his extraordinary accomplishments in the development and construction of the U.S. transportation system. The Medal may not be awarded posthumously except if the recipient dies between the time of selection and presentation.

Who Can Nominate
 
• The Executive Directors of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and TRB
• American Public Transportation Association (APTA) President
• Director, Texas A&M Transportation Institute
• Members, TRB Executive Committee
• TRB staff
• Surviving members of the original Turner Award organizing committees

Nomination Process 

Nominations may be submitted beginning in June and must be submitted no later than July 31 every even year, to the TRB Executive Director. Individuals eligible for this award are assumed to recognizable to at least one member of the selection committee. Therefore, the name of the nominee is all that is required, however, a short description of the achievements that make the nominee eligible for the award is encouraged. At the selection committee’s discretion, a nominee not selected may remain in the candidate pool for future consideration for a time to be determined. AASHTO acts as the Secretariate for the award.

The award recipient will be notified in October and a formal announcement is released later in the Fall. The award is dated for the year it is presented and it is awarded biannually in odd numbered years. It is presented during the Chair’s Plenary Session at the TRB Annual Meeting.

Selection Committee

The Executive Directors of AASHTO, FHWA, and TRB; APTA President; and the Director of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute
Past Recipients

2025 - Nuria Fernandez
2023 - Lillian Borrone
2021 - Rodney E. Slater
2019 - Mary E. Peters
2017 - Norman Y. Mineta
2015 - Robert E. Skinner, Jr.
2013 - C. Michael Walton
2011 - Jane Garvey
2009 - Thomas B. Deen
2007 - Francis B. “Frank” Francois
2005 - Lawrence D. Dahms
2003 - Thomas D. Larson
2001 - Mortimer L. Downey
1999 - Francis C. Turner