Governor’s Award for Public Transportation Presented to Kerr Area Transit Director


Kerr Area Transportation Authority Executive Director Robert Brink, Jr. was presented with the 2016 Governor’s Award for Public Transportation on June 14 by the N.C. Department of Transportation Public Transportation Division at its conference in Concord.

The award, first given in 1988, is presented annually for outstanding service and contributions to public transportation services in North Carolina. Public Transportation Division Director Debbie Collins presented the award.

Brink has served as executive director for Kerr Area Transportation Authority since 2006. As executive director, he oversees public transportation services in Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren Counties. Kerr Area Transportation Authority, locally known as KARTS, is a public, rural transportation system which provides scheduled rides, as well as a shuttle that serves downtown Henderson.

Brink has served as the President of the N.C. Public Transportation Association and is a member of a Transit Cooperative Research Panel studying the effects of non-emergency medical transportation on transportation coordination.

Brink received his bachelor’s degree from Youngstown State University and completed Effective Supervisory Management Training from the UNC School of Government. He has held a number of leadership positions in both local and statewide organizations, including the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Kerr-Tar Council of Government Rural Planning Organization.

Brink and his wife Janelle have two children, Trey and Camden.