Michèle Dix, Managing Director of Planning, Transport for London has been awarded PTRC’s Lifetime Achievement Award at last night’s prestigious Transport Practitioners’ Meeting Awards ceremony. PTRC’s Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded to leading figures in the transport world for their commitment and contribution to the transport planning profession. 

Sir Peter Hendy CBE was delighted to congratulate Michèle in winning this prestigious award and described her as ‘the best transport planner in Britain’. He acknowledged that ‘Michèle’s achievements cannot be understated’ and that Michele is demonstrating a ‘long and star-studded career’. 

Michèle Dix said: ‘It is an honour to receive this award and it is rather apt to receive it this year when TfL is celebrating 100 years of women working in transport. There are many things in my career I am proud of but several stand out; implementing the Congestion Charge, developing the Mayor’s Transport Strategy and the work I am doing on the Roads Task Force to ensure the road network is fit for the 21st century. The cable car in east London was also a great achievement having been conceived, built and delivered all within two years. This pedestrian and cyclist crossing is instrumental to the area’s regeneration and will be complemented by the Silvertown Tunnel and further crossings to support growth in the area. 

‘With London’s population set to grow to 10 million by 2030 my team and I will continue to ensure that the city’s transport needs are met and to support social and economic growth.’ 

Michèle Dix started her career at the Greater London Council (GLC) after completing her PhD in transport and land use planning and became a chartered civil engineer through the GLC’s transport planning graduate scheme. After six years of policy work, Michèle joined Halcrow Fox in the private sector, where she became the Board Director of Urban Transport Planning. After 15 years working on a range of studies Michele joined TfL as Director of Congestion Charging; implementing, running and expanding the scheme with co-Director Malcolm Murray-Clark, as well as developing the Low Emission Zone. 

Since June 2007, Michèle has been the Managing Director of Planning and leads TfL’s strategic thinking on the future transport needs of London, testing and challenging policies and providing clear direction on appropriate transport solutions for the future. 

Michèle is currently responsible for TfL’s development planning work, ensuring development and transport are well integrated to support London’s growth. 

Daniel Parker-Klein, Director, PTRC, presented Michèle with her award and said: ‘It is an honour to present Michèle Dix with the 2014 PTRC Lifetime Achievement Award. Throughout her career Michele has demonstrated a drive and dedication to improve transport in London and beyond culminating in the successes of the London congestion charge and the more recent Roads Task Force. I cannot think of a more fitting figure on the 100th anniversary of women working in transport to receive this prestigious award.’ 

The Transport Practitioners’ Meeting Awards celebrate top transport planners achievements across the UK and recognise the work involved in proposing, planning and developing schemes that improve local transport provision, enhance the built environment, or contribute to local socio-economic well-being.

For more information see website: http://www.ptrc-training.co.uk/tpm