The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) announced the winners of their annual AdWheel Awards at the APTA Annual Meeting & EXPO in Houston. The awards recognize public transportation systems and APTA business members for excellence in advertising, communications, marketing and promotion.

“Congratulations to this year’s AdWheel Award winners on their outstanding work,” says APTA President/CEO Michael Melaniphy. “We salute the creative efforts put forth by the award winners to market public transportation and communicate the many benefits it provides to individuals as well as helping communities grow.”

Over 500 entries competed this year in the five categories of print, electronic, campaign, special event and social media. First place honors were awarded in various subcategories for each of the four groups, based on system size. Grand Award winners were chosen from those first place winners in each group.

Grand Award Winners:

Group 1: Public Transportation Systems with Four Million or Fewer Annual Passenger Trips

• Print Media

“Join the Green Team” Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority, Flagstaff, Ariz.

• Electronic Media

“Different People, Different Reasons” Embark, Oklahoma City, Okla.

• Campaign

“TARTA Tracker Campaign” Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority, Toledo, Ohio

• Special Event

“The 24 Project” Triangle Transit, Research Triangle Park, N.C.

• Social Media

“As The Bus Stops” Triangle Transit, Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Group 2: Public Transportation Systems with More Than Four Million but Fewer Than 20 Million Annual Passenger Trips

• Print Media

“Metrolink Smarty Passenger Car” Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink), Los Angeles

• Electronic Media

“sbX Launch” OMNITRANS, San Bernardino, Calif.

• Campaign

“Downtown Transit Center Awareness Campaign” Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation (IndyGo), Indianapolis

• Special Event

“CATA Clean Commute Options' - Casual Commute Day Event” Capital Area Transportation Authority, Lansing, Mich.  

• Social Media

“Metrolink Facebook Page” Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink), Los Angeles

Group 3: Public Transportation Systems with More Than 20 Million Annual Passengers Trips

• Print Media

“Metro ExpressLanes” Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Los Angeles

• Electronic Media

"Fingers" Sound Transit, Seattle

• Campaign

“Unlock Your City Campaign” Société de transport de Montréal (STM), Montreal

• Special Event

“Union Station Grand Opening Event” Regional Transportation District, Denver

• Social Media

“Project Connect North Corridor - Video” Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Austin, Texas

Group 4: Business Members (Manufacturers, Suppliers, Consultants, Associations, and Transportation Management Organizations)

• Print Media

“GannonConsult Brochure” GannonConsult, Gloucester, Mass.  

• Electronic Media

“Get On board. We'll Get You There - Video” ISR Transit, Montreal

• Campaign

“Commuting for Kids Advocacy Campaign” Commuter Advertising, Inc., Dayton, Ohio    

• Special Event

“National Express CalACT/CTA Conference Event” National Express Group, Warrenville, Ill.    

• Social Media

“Commuter Advertising's Twitter Page” Commuter Advertising, Dayton, Ohio