Skip to main content

IBTTA names 2016 president

The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) has elected Earl J. (Buddy) Croft III as its 2016 president. Croft was elected president for a one year term by the IBTTA’s international membership at its 2015 Annual Meeting in September. Croft is currently the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) in Jamestown, Rhode Island. Since 2006, Croft has led a state-wide team responsible for finance, operations and maintenance of Rhode Island’s four larg
January 6, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
The 3804 International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) has elected Earl J. (Buddy) Croft III as its 2016 president. Croft was elected president for a one year term by the IBTTA’s international membership at its 2015 Annual Meeting in September. Croft is currently the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) in Jamestown, Rhode Island.
 
Since 2006, Croft has led a state-wide team responsible for finance, operations and maintenance of Rhode Island’s four largest bridges in Aquidneck Island. This included the Newport Pell Bridge, the largest suspension bridge in New England. During his tenure, RITBA has spent nearly US$180 million dollars maintaining and repairing its bridges to enhance safety.

One of his proudest accomplishments to date is the installation of a median barrier on the bridge deck of the Newport Pell Bridge, a US$6 million dollar building project whose aim was to reduce the number of crossover accidents and enhance safety for all motorists.

Croft has been a member of IBTTA's Board of Directors for the past six years, most recently serving as first vice president. Before joining IBTTA's Board, Buddy was a member of several committees including serving as Chairman of the IBTTA Audit Committee and as a member of the Finance and Government Affairs Committees.

"I am delighted to assume the helm of this organisation at this pivotal time in transportation history," said Croft. "In the United States, we are at a crossroads where the country’s building and repair needs for it roads, bridges and tunnels are colliding with significantly reduced transportation budgets, both on the federal and state levels. IBTTA plays an important role in providing solutions to address these challenges here and abroad and I look forward to addressing these transportation issues as president."  
 
"Buddy is the perfect leader to serve as president of IBTTA at this critical time," said Patrick D. Jones, executive director and CEO of IBTTA. "Under his leadership, Buddy has modernised Rhode Island's tolling operation by introducing the E-ZPass system and open road tolling for motorists. He brings to IBTTA a tremendous level of experience and leadership in transportation and tolling."

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • European transport investment plan approved
    July 30, 2015
    EU national representatives have endorsed a proposal to fund hundreds of transport projects worth US$14 billion, reports the European Commission. The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) coordination committee, which is made up of representatives of the 28 Member States, approved the funding for 276 projects which the Commission proposed on 29 June. EU Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc said "I am very pleased that following constructive discussions in the CEF coordination committee, the Member Stat
  • Init scoops passenger information project in Canada
    February 28, 2013
    In a contract worth US$59 million, German telematics specialist Init is to supply a fleet management system for iBus, one of the largest public transport projects in Canada currently being launched by Société de Transport de Montréal (STM). STM, the main transit authority in the second most important economic region in Canada is modernising and enhancing its operations over the next few years. At the heart of this is a fleet management and real-time passenger information system with state-of-the-art vehicle
  • European tunnel upgrades following new safety legislation
    August 20, 2015
    Across Europe there is a very mixed picture of compliance to latest safety standards for road tunnels. Best practice has emerged, however, in the wake of European legislation. Jon Masters reports High profile fatal fires following accidents in the Mont Blanc, Tauern and Gotthard tunnels prompted the 2004 European Union Directive 2004/54 on road tunnel safety. This meant all EU member states would have to meet new standards of safety in road tunnels by 30 April 2014. The Directive applied to all tunnels over
  • Massachusetts moves ahead on AET
    August 20, 2013
    The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has scheduled three public meetings to present all electronic tolling (AET) information and solicit comments from members of the public. MassDOT proposes to convert and replace the I-90 Western Turnpike and I-90 Boston Metropolitan Highway System interchange-based manual cash and electronic toll collection systems with a new system of tolling relying only on AET. The project will include both roadway tolling infrastructure and toll collection sys