ADA COUNTY- Two ACHD staff members are being recognized by the WTS Southwest Idaho Chapter, an organization dedicated to the advancement of women in the transportation industry.
Kelli Baker was named the 2022 WTS Southwest Idaho Member of the Year. The award honors a chapter member who has shown commitment to the goals and growth of WTS, promoted WTS within the transportation industry and revitalized and expanded the Chapter.
Avery Foerster was honored with the Rosa Parks Diversity Award. The award recognizes an individual contributing significantly to the promotion of diversity, inclusion, and multi-cultural awareness.
Baker, a traffic engineer at the Ada County Highway District, has been in the transportation industry for seven years. She served this year as the WTS Annual Gala Chair, and previously served as the WTS Communication Chair and Social Media Co-Chair. In addition to her work for WTS, she also plays a vital role in improving Ada County's roadway in a variety of ways, ranging from school zone safety improvement to large intersections and roadway improvement projects.
Baker is also leading efforts for ACHD's Leading Pedestrian Interval project as part of ACHD's Let's Get There Safely Initiative. A leading pedestrian interval allows extra time for pedestrians to make their way into a crosswalk before vehicle traffic proceeds through the intersection. Baker is leading efforts to implement leading pedestrian intervals at all ACHD-owned intersections in the county to increase safety for pedestrians.
Foerster, a communications specialist, facilitates public involvement and outreach on ACHD projects and is spearheading efforts to reach every community member by facilitating translation services for members of the community impacted by ACHD projects. She works with school districts, and has forged relationships with the local refugee communities, ensuring publications about projects that impact these important community subgroups are translated and disseminated. In addition to her tremendous outreach work to groups of diverse languages and cultures, she also focuses on serving those with disabilities by focusing on providing accessible print and digital information that meets ADA standards.
Recipients were recently presented with their awards at the annual WTS Southwest Idaho Chapter Gala.