Denver RTD wins top award at APTA Rail Conference
RTD won the prestigious Rail Transit Team Achievement Award. This top award is given to the system with the highest rail operator and maintainer team combined score.
The winners of the 18th annual American Public Transportation Association (APTA) International Rail Rodeo were announced Sunday at an awards dinner in Vancouver at the 2010 APTA Rail Conference. Nine public transit systems from across North America competed in this international competition, which recognizes the men and women who keep rail systems safe and efficient.
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) of Denver won the prestigious Rail Transit Team Achievement Award. This top award is given to the system with the highest rail operator and maintainer team combined score. The winning RTD team members were Robert Dennis, Randall Lovegrove and George Sweeney.
The Operators Competition measures professional skills including train operation; knowledge of safety regulations; train equipment; and track right-of-way rules and procedures. First place in the Operators Competition was won by RTD's Robert Dennis. Michael Shepard from Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) of Philadelphia came in second place. The team of Lee-Ann Knight and Ven Rao from BC Rapid Transit (SkyTrain) of Burnaby, British Columbia, took third place honors.
The Maintainers Competition judges the ability to troubleshoot maintenance problems.Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) of Los Angeles earned first place with the maintainer team of Glen Abraham, Ronnie Burt, and Eric Czintos. Denver's RTD won second place with the team ofRandall Lovegrove and George Sweeney. SEPTA's maintainer team of Ed Carruthers, Mike O'Grady, and Jason Rickert won third place.
More Rail

The Invisible Infrastructure of Passenger Flow
What a seat reservation system on Austria’s Railjet trains reveals about the future of rider experience, and why U.S. agencies should pay attention.
Read More →
Caltrain Board Approves FY27 Budget, Endorses Efficiency Measures
The move ensures Caltrain service will continue operating as usual in the near term, but long-term financial challenges remain for the rail agency absent a new revenue source.
Read More →
Alstom Acquires Delaware Site to Support Amtrak NextGen Acela Fleet
The company is investing more than $55 million to acquire and improve the property and will employ approximately 100 people at this site once it is operational.
Read More →
When Routine Fails: How Public Transit Must Adapt for the World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will test transit agencies’ ability to manage unpredictable travel patterns, making real-time data and operational flexibility critical to moving millions of visitors efficiently.
Read More →
California Selects Team for Nation’s First True High-Speed Rail Track and Systems Contract
The board action follows completion of track installation at the 150-acre southern railhead in Kern County, which will serve as the staging and distribution hub for high-speed track and systems installation.
Read More →
Seattle's Sound Transit Launches New Sounder Railcars into Service
Alstom manufactured all the cars under a $46.5 million contract and came into service in anticipation of summer crowds for soccer and baseball.
Read More →
Alstom Partners With Universities to Build Rail Talent Pipeline
The partnerships include a new engineering scholarship fund at Alfred State College in Western New York and collaborations with transportation centers at the University of Pennsylvania and New York University.
Read More →
Chicago's NITA Act Moves Into Next Phase as Service Improvements Begin
Rider-focused improvements will begin rolling out across the system immediately as CTA, Metra, and Pace increase service this summer in the six-county region.
Read More →
Seattle’s Sound Transit Adopts Updated ST3 System Plan
The updated system plan incorporates cost savings across the agency, including new revenue sources and financial policies, to set the agency on a sustainable path for the future.
Read More →
Inside Look: EMBARK Expands Fare-Free Transit Program Through New Public-Private Partnership
The OKC transit agency says sponsorship helps subsidize the Third Friday Free initiative while reducing barriers for first-time riders and boosting ridership across buses, streetcars, and river cruises.
Read More →