James W. Piekarczyk, P.E., county engineer for Kankakee County, Ill., is the recipient of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s (ARTBA) 2005 Ralph R. Bartelsmeyer Award. The award was presented at the association’s Annual Convention, held Sept. 12-16 in Palm Beach, Fla.
Established in 1983 in memory of Past ARTBA Chairman (1961-63) Ralph R. Bartelsmeyer, the award honors a public official who has demonstrated a strong sense of dedication and service to the association’s Transportation Officials Division (TOD) and the transportation construction industry.
Piekarczyk has been active in ARTBA for nearly 25 years, serving as 2002-03 TOD president and on the association’s board of directors. He played a role in developing ARTBA’s legislative blueprint for the 2005 reauthorization of the nation’s highways and mass transit programs, known as SAFETEA-LU, which was signed into law August 10 by President George W. Bush.
Piekarczyk became county engineer in 1982. He oversees the design, construction, repair, maintenance and traffic safety of more than 1,150 miles of roads and approximately 250 bridges throughout the county.
Piekarczyk earned a B.S. in civil engineering from the University of Illinois in 1975. He is a licensed professional engineer in Illinois and Indiana. He is also involved with the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers, the National Association of County Engineers and the Illinois Association of County Engineers.
Piekarczyk was an advisor to the Federal Highway Administration from 1991 to 1999. In 1992, he was named “rural engineer of the year” by the National Association of County Engineers.
