ARTBA presents two traffic safety industry division awards

Don Harris, a former consultant with Minnesota-based 3M, and Lee E. Billingsley, retired director of the Broward County (Fla.) Public Works and Transportation Department, are the respective private and public sector recipients of the 2008 American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s (ARTBA) prestigious Jake Landen Memorial Safety Award.

Established in 1989 by ARTBA’s Traffic Safety Industry Division (TSID) in memory of safety industry leader and past ARTBA Chairman (1976) J.C. Landen, the award annually recognizes outstanding contributions to highway safety. The award was presented in June during the TSID summer meeting in Mobile, Ala.

Harris spent 33 years with 3M’s Traffic Control Materials Division and served as a consultant to the company for an additional 10 years. He held senior positions in sales, marketing, research and traffic safety. He is nationally and internationally recognized as an expert on traffic signing. Harris has also been involved in leadership roles with industry groups such as the Transportation Research Board, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

Billingsley was recognized for his long-standing public service in Florida. He has an extensive background with the Broward County Public Works and Transportation Department, Broward County Traffic Engineering Division and the City of Fort Lauderdale Transportation Department. Billingsley provided management and administration oversight for the design and project management of all county-funded road construction while maintaining effective working relationships with other governmental units, public and private agencies and citizen groups.