AUSTIN, TX — The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) announces its Chairman of the Chief Elected Officials/Rural Transportation Planning Organization (CEO/RTPO) Board, Anderson County Judge Robert Johnston, has received the Distinguished Service Award from the Texas Transit Association (TTA). Johnston was honored with the award in Austin at one of the largest transit conferences held in the nation, the 2022 Joint Annual Conference, Expo, and Roadeo hosted by TTA and the South West Transit Association (SWTA).

TTA’s Distinguished Service Award is given to a state or local elected official who has substantially assisted in the advancement of public transit in the state of Texas. Johnston was selected for the award because of his work supporting transportation in East Texas.

“Judge Johnston is not only a County Judge but Chairman of the 14-county East Texas Rural Transportation Planning Organization, a member of the ETCOG Board of Directors, and Chairman of the ETCOG Chief Elected Board of Officials, and the President-Elect of the Texas Association of Regional Councils Board, among others," said ETCOG Executive Director David Cleveland. "He has diligently worked with ETCOG since 2011 and has supported many positive improvements for public transportation during this time. His continuous support of GoBus and transit-related projects in East Texas has aided in the ability for the transportation of thousands of citizens in need. Judge Johnston is a well-respected member of the region due to his humble heart and commitment to public service. We appreciate his dedication to the entire East Texas Region and his commitment to providing excellence for our customers."

“I am honored to receive this award from TTA and am grateful for the recognition that comes with it,” Johnston said. “ The reason why I decided to run for public office in the first place was that I wanted to make a positive difference in the lives of the citizens I serve. In my view, that is what is most important. Thank you to TTA for conferring this award on me. I appreciate it.”

More than 700 transit industry leaders, professionals, and business partners have gathered for the annual conference at the Austin Convention Center. TTA was organized in 1986, and its members are Texas metropolitan, small urban, and rural transit agencies and private and public entities from across the United States. TTA’s purpose is to educate the people of Texas about issues affecting the public transit industry within the state.