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Philip F. Kazmierski

Philip F. Kazmierski, Okemos, was appointed in 1987 by Gov. James Blanchard and reappointed by Gov. John Engler to serve as the deputy director of the MDOT Bureau of Urban and Public Transportation (UPTRAN). He was responsible for statewide public transit, rail and marine programs, as well as regulatory functions for bus and rail. Kazmierski worked tirelessly with elected officials to secure state and federal funding for public transit, intercity bus and ferryboat services, resulting in Michigan providing the sixth-highest level of state funding for public transit.

Under Kazmierski's direction, the Detroit-Chicago rail corridor became one of five federally designated high-speed corridors, leading to 110 mph passenger operations. In 1998, Senate Resolution No. 231 honored Kazmierski for his involvement in this corridor to "express support for high-speed rail in Michigan." He also spearheaded various rail freight economic development projects and led the Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal Project. Kazmierski retired from MDOT in 2002.

Michigan Transportation Hall of Honor, 2018