Honored: Golden Pylon Award (2010) — Traffic Reporting, Southern California

In 2010 I was recognized with a Golden Pylon Award, an honor presented by Southern California transit agencies to traffic reporters whose on‑air work helps commuters discover smarter ways to move—ridesharing, carpool/vanpool, transit, and more.

By 2010, I was already “the traffic guy” across KFI shows—part of a team that treats traffic reporting as service journalism: actionable, calm, and accurate in the moments listeners need it most. The Pylon validated that approach—helping people change their commute, not just survive it.

Why this mattered (then)

• Golden Pylons are tied to Rideshare Week, spotlighting reporting that actually nudges behavior (carpool, vanpool, transit).
• The traffic reality in 2010? LA’s peak-period traveler was losing ~70 hours/year; congestion costs hit $10.3B. That’s the context for doing traffic as public-service journalism.

What the Award Is

The Golden Pylon Awards are presented by regional transportation agencies (led by LA Metro and partner agencies) to spotlight traffic reporters who help the public consider alternatives to solo driving—carpools, vanpools, transit, biking, walking—especially around Rideshare Week. In various years, co‑presenters have included Metro, OCTA, San Bernardino’s transportation authority, and VCTC.

For more: The Source