Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s Assistant Chief of Facilities Operations Recognized for Commitment to Sustainability
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s Assistant Chief of Facilities Operations Recognized for Commitment to Sustainability
MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s Assistant Chief of Facilities Operations, Keith Jack, has been recognized as the inaugural recipient of the Sustainability Impact Award. Jack received the recognition at a special ceremony on Tuesday, August 18.
The PA Turnpike's Sustainability Committee created the Sustainability Impact Award to recognize employees who demonstrate exceptional leadership and a steadfast commitment to advancing sustainability across the PA Turnpike Commission by driving measurable results, fostering innovation, and advancing the PA Turnpike Commission's vision of becoming America's First Sustainable Superhighway by 2040.
“Keith has embraced the pioneering spirit of those who planned and built our roadway by helping to create an organization-wide culture that ensures environmental sustainability practices are embodied in every decision of our roadway and business practices,” said Mark Compton, PA Turnpike Commission CEO. “Powering the highway of the future must be done in a sustainable way, and Keith’s efforts have been vital in helping set our sustainability roadmap that’s propelling the PA Turnpike’s practices across our 565-plus-mile system.”
As Assistant Chief of Facilities Operations for the PA Turnpike Commission, Jack oversees the maintenance, management and upkeep at 140 facilities across the Pennsylvania Turnpike's 565-mile network, including the Central Administration Building, Turnpike Industrial Park, Eastern and Western Regional Offices, 23 maintenance sheds, five tunnels, and various tower sites, fare collection facilities, and State Police stations. He was the co-founder of the PA Turnpike Commission’s Sustainability Committee and helped co-chair the committee for five years.
“This is truly an honor to receive this award,” Jack said. Throughout my career, I’ve believed that investing in sustainable infrastructure is about leaving our facilities and transportation system stronger for the next generation. I’m grateful to work alongside colleagues at the Pennsylvania Turnpike who share that vision and make it a reality every day.”
Under Jack’s leadership, the PA Turnpike Commission became the first, and still only, agency to achieve a perfect score from Pennsylvania’s GreenGov Council and has done so for four consecutive years. Established in 2019, the PA GreenGov Council supports the Commonwealth’s climate goal of an 80% reduction of net greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 2050. Housed within the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the council helps integrate sustainability into the Commonwealth’s policies, planning, operations, procurement and regulatory functions.
In 2022, Jack oversaw the installation of the PA Turnpike Commission’s first-of-its-kind 3,300 panel solar microgrid that powers the Greensburg Maintenance Facility and District Trades Building. This has evolved the PA Turnpike Commission’s energy management strategy to include constructing a series of solar generation facilities along the PA Turnpike’s right-of-way areas, building a solar canopy at its Central Administration Building, and hosting an inductive charging stationary showcase to test the interoperability of electric vehicle charging stations. Jack has shared insights on the PA Turnpike’s sustainability strategy at various forums nationwide, including the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, the American Society of Highway Engineers, and the Keystone Emergency Management Association.
“We are very proud to honor Keith Jack as the first recipient of Sustainability Impact Award,” said Leslie Gervasio, the PA Turnpike’s Director of Communications and Sustainability Co-Chair. “His commitment has helped create an organization-wide culture where environmental sustainability practices are incorporated in everything we do, resulting in some of the most progressive steps taken by a government entity in the state.”
Sustainability and environmental protection have been core beliefs within the PA Turnpike Commission since the 1990's. Other recent innovations in sustainability include:
- Reducing energy usage, which has yielded financial savings for the PA Turnpike
- Installing EV chargers at our service plazas, with more than 80 to be installed by 2027
- Reducing mowing schedules to allow native plant growth
- Planting pollinator habitats at seven service plazas, interchanges and the Central Administration Building in Middletown, with more than 40 sites being explored for future installation
- Evaluating the feasibility of an electrified road system
“Thanks to Keith’s dedication, we are well on our way to achieving our goal of becoming America’s First Sustainable Superhighway by 2040,” said Kathryn Hartzell, the PA Turnpike’s Assistant Chief Technical Officer and Sustainability Co-Chair. “His leadership and vision have set us up as an industry leader in sustainable practices that will protect our environment and roadway for years to come while advancing our operational and financial goals.”
Jack, a 25-year employee of the PA Turnpike Commission, was previously recognized as the Engineer of the Year by the Facility Managers Association in 2014. He is also a U.S. veteran, serving as a Seabee with the U.S. Navy.
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