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White Earth Transit Manager named 2022 Minnesota Transit Professional of the Year

WHITE EARTH, MINN. – Kenneth Bakken, White Earth Public Transit Manager, was honored at this year's Minnesota Public Transit Association (MPTA) conference as the 2022 Minnesota Transit Professional of the Year. This is the 4th award that White Earth Public Transit has received under his management.

Three of the awards are state-level awards to include 2017 Transit System of the Year, 2018 Transit Operator of the Year presented to Clarence Skala, and 2022 Transit Professional of the Year presented to Ken Bakken. Transit has also received one National-level award from the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) for 2022 Rural Community Transit System of the Year.

White Earth Public Transit has been recognized across the state and the nation for their operations, expansion, leadership, and their innovative response in a time of need during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

White Earth Transit has been able to secure many state and federal operating grants over the years to assist with the continued growth of our rural transit system, the most recent success is a $3.6-million section 5339 Buses and Bus Facilities grant which is a federally awarded competitive capital grant from Federal Transit Administration.

This grant will be utilized to construct a new White Earth Public Transit Bus facility located in Waubun. White Earth Public Transit continues to strive to pave the way for Tribal Transit Systems, rural transit systems, and others in the transportation industry from across the state and nation.

Some of the innovations that White Earth Public Transit has implemented are adding electronic fare collection systems to buses and integrating propane buses to lower emissions.

The nomination for Minnesota Transit Professional of the year came from Dean Templin who presented the award to Kenneth along with MPTA staff at the annual conference on Oct. 24 in St. Cloud, Minn.

 

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