CITT News

The California State University Transportation Consortium (CSUTC) and Kome Ajise, Executive Director of the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), were both honored at this year’s California Transportation Foundation (CTF) Annual Awards Gala. CITT joins the transportation community across California in congratulating Ajise and CSUTC on their much-deserved awards! CITT is proud to have Ajise on the METRANS Transportation Consortium Advisory Board and the CSUTUC as a crucial research partner.

Since its inception, the CSUTC has been a frequent collaborator with CITT. CSUTC is composed of four CSU campuses and their affiliated departments or research centers: CSU Chico (California Pavement Preservation Center), CSU Fresno (Fresno State Transportation Institute), CSU Long Beach (Center for International Trade and Transportation & College of Engineering) and San José State University (Mineta Transportation Institute). The CTF recognized CSUTC as one of California’s most vital and important organized research programs in the field.

The CTF Heinz Heckeroth Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Kome Ajise for his many contributions and dedicated service to the transportation industry over a distinguished career. Ajise is the third recipient of this prestigious award, established in 2023. Today, Kome Ajise serves as Executive Director for the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), which addresses regional needs concerning transportation, growth management, air quality, and hazardous waste management across Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernadino, and Ventura counties. It is the largest metropolitan planning organization in the country. Ajise rose through the ranks at Caltrans to become Chief Deputy Director prior to his current role at SCAG. Ajise has a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography and Regional Planning from the University of Benin, Nigeria and a Master of City and Regional Planning degree from California State University, Fresno. 

Heinz Heckeroth (1925-2022) founded the CTF in June 1988 after retiring from a career of service at Caltrans. The foundation provides scholarship programs, mentorship services, and the Injured and Fallen Worker program. More information about the important work of the California Transportation Foundation can be found on the organization's website.