The American Council of Engineering Companies of Indiana (ACEC Indiana) recently recognized Mayor James Brainard of Carmel, IN with the 2012 Public Service of the Year Award at its annual meeting.
Five-term Mayor James Brainard’s initiatives to improve the quality of life in the City ofCarmelhave focused around one main objective—improving infrastructure to enhance economic development.
Mayor Brainard leads his community’s extensive infrastructure improvements and understands that economic development is key to a city’s long-lasting success.
In just a little over a decade, Mayor Brainard has grownCarmelfrom a suburb of 25,000 residents to a thriving city of more than 80,000 people. One key infrastructure initiative has been a system-wide use of modern roundabouts. By replacing the heaviest traveled intersections in the community with free-flowing roundabouts, the city has drastically reduced traffic congestion and emissions caused by idling. Most importantly, according to officials, these roundabouts have reduced traffic accidents with injury by up to 80 percent.
“Mayor Brainard’s enthusiasm for the construction of roundabouts in the City ofCarmelhas inspired other cities around the world to consider introducing roundabouts as traffic solutions, for increased safety, effective commuting, and environmental initiatives,” said ACEC Indiana President Bill Hall.
The Public Service of the Year Award was established in 1984 to pay tribute to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the profession of consulting engineering.