PA Turnpike Employee Named ‘Person of the Year’ by State Transportation Professionals
PA Turnpike Employee Named ‘Person of the Year’ by State Transportation Professionals
Organization works to transform transportation technology and innovation
MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Turnpike (PA Turnpike)’s Manager of Incident Management and Traffic Operations, Mike Pack, has been named “Person of the Year” by Intelligent Transportation Society (ITS) Pennsylvania.
“I’m very honored to be recognized by my peers and take pride in advancing emerging technology at the PA Turnpike,” Pack said. “Keeping ‘America’s First Superhighway’ at the forefront of innovation takes a team that is willing to transform who we are to our customers and ensure we stay on the cutting edge, which is the foundation for our decision-making.”
Pack received the “Person of the Year” award Monday at the ITS Pennsylvania annual conference in Gettysburg.
Pack was recently involved with the team that created the PA Turnpike’s 47676 text-messaging service, an industry-first program that allows customers in an unexpected traffic backlog to text “INFO” to 47676 to receive automated updates every 15 to 20 minutes. This service verifies a customer’s location using GPS and then informs the customer on the incident and expected clearing time. Pack’s work at the PA Turnpike has also been vital in improving Roadway safety, incident clearance times, as well as improving efforts that enhance roadway mobility and reliability.
“We congratulate Mike for this well-deserved recognition,” said Tom Macchione, PA Turnpike Director of Traffic Engineering & Operations. “Mike has been a champion and leader in transportation innovation for more than two decades and Mike’s work continues to keep us on the cutting edge of roadway safety."
ITS Pennsylvania is a chapter of ITS America, a non-profit advocating for transformational technology to save lives, improve mobility and create a more resilient and sustainable transportation system. Pack, who has been with the PA Turnpike since 2015, served on ITS Pennsylvania’s board for three years and has served on numerous committees for the organization.
A national transportation leader, the Pennsylvania Turnpike (PA Turnpike) is the second largest tolling facility in the United States with the most miles. The PA Turnpike proudly supports safety and convenience for its more than 550,000 daily customers through 24-7 roadside assistance, round-the-clock food and fuel at 17 service plazas and a dedicated maintenance force and State Police Troop. The PA Turnpike’s approximately 1,400-person local workforce is unified in its mission; to operate a safe, reliable, customer-valued toll road system that supports national mobility and commerce. For more information about the PA Turnpike’s mission, vision and values, please visit Home | PA Turnpike.
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Media Contacts:
Marissa Orbanek, Press Secretary: (267) 408-5151, morbanek@paturnpike.com
Crispin Havener, Assistant Press Secretary: (717) 870-2841, chavener@paturnpike.com