A Ghanaian based in the United States has been selected as the 2017 International Association Transportation Regulators (IATR) Regulator of the Year, at the organization's 30th-anniversary conference held in Austin, Texas.

Ernest Chrappah, who is the Director of the Department of For-Hire Vehicles in Washington DC, is lauded by the U.S government's transportation professional peers for exceptional public service, leadership, reforms, and innovation in regulating for-hire ground transportation.

IATR President Matthew W. Daus made the announcement at the IATR's 30th Annual Conference, which is being held in Austin, Texas this year. 

"Expanding economic opportunities by implementing grant programs that provided over $1 million to entrepreneurs to start or grow for-hire transportation businesses, provide wheelchair accessible service, and reduce transportation inequities.

"Creating the highly successful alternative paratransit service, TransportDC, which generated more $7.2 million in savings for the District," the statement said.

Below is the statement from the IATR

The IATR is pleased to announce that it has selected Ernest Chrappah, and the District of Columbia Department of For-Hire Vehicles, as its 2017 Regulator of the Year, at the organization's 30th-anniversary conference held in Austin, Texas.

The IATR's Regulator of the Year Award is recognition by government transportation professional peers for exceptional public service, leadership, reforms, and innovation in regulating for-hire ground transportation.

Ernest Chrappah is the Director of the Department of For-Hire Vehicles in Washington, DC. During his time as Director, Chrappah has led the reorganization and rebranding of the former DC Taxi Commission into the new Department of For-Hire Vehicles, to oversee a new ecosystem of ridesharing, taxis, and limousines.

He has helped to change the face of the industry in DC with innovations such as:

Creating the first-ever electric taxi program in DC with 150 all-electric vehicles and 2 fast charging stations that increased awareness of climate change, generated fuel cost savings, and reduced C02 emissions by more than 1,064,896 pounds.

Expanding economic opportunities by implementing grant programs that provided over $1 million to entrepreneurs to start or grow for-hire transportation businesses, provide wheelchair accessible service, and reduce transportation inequities.

Creating the highly successful alternative paratransit service, TransportDC, which generated more $7.2 million in savings for the District.

Launching a public for-hire industry data dashboard showing for-hire industry trips, drivers, revenue, vehicles, and trends to provide transparency into industry performance and data-driven public policy.

Director Chrappah has further elevated the modernization of the DC taxi fleet by introducing digital meter apps to streamline the taxi experience for riders and help drivers compete with app-based ride-hailing services.

Taxis in DC are now equipped with attractive features such as reverse surge pricing, fare estimates, digital receipts, shared rides, on-demand deliveries and more. He also led the creation of the first-ever taxi shuttle-based micro transit service for underserved areas of the city and nighttime economy workers.

IATR President Matthew W. Daus made the announcement at the IATR's 30th Annual Conference, which is being held in Austin, Texas this year. Daus stated, “Director Chrappah's efforts have helped to modernize, innovate, and elevate the for-hire industry in DC while providing the public with safer and more efficient options for meeting their transportation needs.

His accomplishments make him a prime example of how a regulator can meet the public safety needs of the people they serve while simultaneously uplifting the regulated industry.

Director Chrappah upholds the goals of the IATR and is a true transportation technology innovator. This honor is well-deserved, and leaders like Director Chrappah are the future of transportation regulation!”

“I am both honored and humbled to receive this recognition. However, this is not just about my accomplishment as much as an indication of the support of Mayor Bowser and the diligence of the DFHV staff,” said DFHV Director Chrappah.

IATR Board Chair Jim Ney joined IATR President Daus in presenting the award to Mr. Chrappah.

The International Association of Transportation Regulators is a non-profit organization serving and educating government transportation officials globally since 1987. For further information, visit IATR's website at www.iatr.global