TRF Moves to UGPTI

The Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute has become the administrative home of the Transportation Research Forum.

The Forum is an independent organization of transportation professionals that provides an impartial meeting ground for carriers, shippers, government officials, consultants, university researchers, suppliers and others to discuss ideas related to both passenger and freight transportation. The group has about 400 members and was founded in 1958.

Gene Griffin, UGPTI director, has been named executive vice president of the TRF and the UGPTI has become home to the day-to-day business of the organization. The Journal of the Transportation Research Forum will be published twice a year by the UGPTI and the staff there are also maintaining the TRF website.

TRF president C. Gregory Bereskin expressed enthusiasm at focusing most TRF activities at the UGPTI. "We believe there are great synergies here. We look forward to a long period of joint collaboration."

"There are some real benefits to the UGPTI as well for providing a home to TRF," Griffin says. "We will benefit from closer relationships with our colleagues across the continent. Sharing ideas, resources and knowledge have always been a strength for us. This will only strengthen that. Additionally, this will raise the awareness across the country for the excellent work we do here."

TRF was previously managed by the Eno Transportation Foundation based in Washington, D.C.

Zink to Receive Agrey Award from Transportation Institute

Ray Zink, retired chief engineer for the North Dakota Department of Transportation will receive the John M. Agrey Award from the UGPTI.

The award recognizes significant contributions to transportation. It is named for John Agrey, a pioneer and innovator in North Dakota transportation who worked for more than 30 years with the North Dakota Public Service Commission. Zink will receive the award Sept. 28 at the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute's Annual Awards Banquet at the Fargo Holiday Inn.

During his career Zink implemented major reforms within the department. He created the "master equipment operator" position which was instrumental in slowing turnover in the ranks of equipment operators and reinstating pride within the maintenance force. He also led the consolidation of maintenance sections leading to more efficient, productive employees and workstations. Finally, he established the low-load program to preserve the highway system by limiting the weight of tractortrailer vehicles.

Originally from Bordulac, N.D., Zink earned a B.S. degree in engineering from NDSU in 1959. He began his career with the NDDOT that same year as a draftsman and eventually became the department's chief engineer. He retired in 1999 as deputy director for engineering policy and director of the office of highway operations.

Zink also served as vice-chair of the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Standing Committee on Highways. He also served on the AASHTO Committee for National Cooperative Highway Research Programs.

Colleagues note that during his more than 40 years with the North Dakota DOT, he worked effectively with three governors, four NDDOT directors, members of both political parties and the workers of the DOT. Zink and his wife, Alita, have four children and live in Bismarck.