The Pioneer Institute’s Shawni Littlehale with Metro CEO Phil Washington.

Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington and Metro’s Career Pathways Program — including the planned SEED School of Los Angeles County — were awarded the top prize Monday night in the Pioneer Institute’s Better Government Competition. The Pioneer Institute is a Boston-based, independent research organization that seeks to improve quality of life through data-driven public policy solutions. The theme of the 2019 competition was, “Moving People, Moving Goods, Moving Forward,” focusing on innovations that prepare the American workforce for the future of transportation.

The awards gala was attended by 300 people including Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and Bruce Landsberg, the Vice Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board. Phil wrote and submitted the entry in May of this year and accepted the award in Boston on behalf of Metro and the SEED School.

The Better Government Competition received more than 140 entries from transit systems, public agencies, entrepreneurs, universities and nonprofits across the nation. The award comes with a check for $10,000 made out to the SEED Foundation to help support the school. This was the Pioneer Institute’s 29th annual competition.