FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
For more information contact: Mary F. Chance, Director
Department of Community Services, 410-638-3389

Harford County’s New Transit Administrator Speaks to TMA Members Nov. 24

Nov. 5, 2009 -- Jim Ports will be the guest speaker at the Nov. 24 meeting of the Harford County Transportation Management Association (TMA). The meeting will take place from 9 a.m.-10 a.m. in Room 201 of the Higher Education and Applied  Technology (HEAT) Center, 1201 Technology Drive in Aberdeen.

Ports brings a wealth of transportation expertise to his current position of Administrator of Harford Transit.  Prior to joining Harford County Government, he was appointed by the Secretary of Transportation, with the consent of the President of the United States, as the Deputy Administrator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  As Deputy Administrator he served as the agency's Chief Operating Officer and managed the overall executive direction of NHTSA’s Headquarters personnel and 10 Regional offices across the Nation.

Ports has also served as the Deputy Secretary for the Maryland Department of Transportation, where he was Chief Operating Officer for a 9,200-employee department with an annual budget of $3.7 billion dollars.  Mr. Ports’ responsibilities spanned all transportation modalities including the Maryland Aviation Administration (BWI/Thurgood Marshall and Martin Airports), the Port of Baltimore, State Highway Administration, Maryland Transit Administration, the Motor Vehicle Administration, and Emergency Management/Homeland Security.

Ports served in the Maryland General Assembly from 1991 to 2002 as a member of the House of Delegates.  He was the Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Committee and served on numerous subcommittees, including the Subcommittee on Transportation. 

Members of the Transportation Management Association are advocates for convenient, effective and efficient transportation to meet the needs of Harford County citizens, businesses, and government. The TMA meeting is open and free to the public.  For more information, contact Pat Fielder, Rideshare Coordinator, at 410-638-3069.