Lifetime Achievement Award – Beaubien Engineering

At the Intelligent Transportation Society of Michigan Annual Meeting in East Lansing, Michigan on October 2, 2024, Richard Beaubien was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his work on advanced technology projects for traffic signal timing and freeway operations. The award also recognized the promotion of regional cooperation for traffic incident management and transportation operations in Metro Detroit. The award was presented by ITS Michigan Secretary Elise Feldpausch (Michigan Department of Transportation) and ITS Michigan President Tony Geara (City of Detroit). Presenting the award, Tony said:

It is my honor to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to an esteemed leader in Intelligent Transportation Systems, Richard Beaubien. Throughout his impressive career spanning over 40 years, Richard has demonstrated remarkable vision and innovation in advancing the transportation industry, particularly within ITS.
Through the various roles he has served, Richard’s work in traffic engineering, transportation planning, and intelligent systems has been instrumental in transforming Michigan’s transportation infrastructure, integrating technology to create safer and more efficient roadways.
A proud University of Michigan graduate in Civil and Traffic Engineering, Richard’s dedication extends to multiple professional affiliations and certifications that go beyond ITS. He is a registered Professional Engineer and a Professional Traffic Operations Engineer, with a commitment to advancing ITS that has set a benchmark for innovation and leadership. He led the implementation of cutting-edge technologies like the adaptive SCATS traffic control system in SE Michigan, optimizing traffic flow and safety.
Today, Richard continues his mission to advance transportation innovation. He currently chairs the Metro Detroit Traffic Incident Management Committee and tirelessly organizes the SE Michigan Regional Transportation Operations Coordinating meetings and the Traffic Incident Management annual meeting. He is part of our long line of pioneers who have served as Past-Presidents of the Intelligent Transportation Society of Michigan.
“I want to be like him when I grow up.”
Tonight, we celebrate Richard’s commitment to driving transportation innovation, safety, and efficiency throughout his career. We honor the wisdom of a trailblazer who has helped redefine “intelligence” in our ITS industry. Please join me in celebrating the lifetime achievements of Dick Beaubien as we present this well-deserved honor!