D.C. Metro wins APTA Rail Roadeo top prize

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) won the prestigious Rail Transit Team Achievement Award at the 22nd annual American Public Transportation Association (APTA) International Rail Rodeo held June 14 and 15 in conjunction with the 2014 APTA Rail Conference in Montreal, Quebec.

The Rail Transit Team Achievement Award is given to the system with the highest rail operator and maintainer team combined score. The winning team members were Roberta Randolph, Michael Holt, Mihireteab Kuratie, Jacob Stout and Roland Lamar.

“Our rail operators and maintainers work day in and day out to make sure that America's fleet of trains is well maintained and that customers are provided safe and courteous service," said APTA President/CEO Michael Melaniphy. “I applaud all of this year's winners for being the very best of the best.”

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 Roberta Randolph and Michael Holt of Metro. David Resendez and Jesus Valdez of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority placed second. The team of Christina Robinson and Robert Yawn from Bi-State Development Agency in St. Louis took third-place honors.

The Maintainers’ Competition judges the ability to troubleshoot maintenance problems. Oakland. Calif.’s Bay Area Rapid Transit District team earned first place, with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and the Denver Regional Transportation District teams taking second and third place, respectively.

In addition, APTA awarded Société de transport de Montréal (STM) with an official certificate for earning Gold-level recognition in the APTA Sustainability Commitment program.

Chair Phillipe Schnobb and CEO Carl Desrosiers received the award for STM’s sustainability commitment, which resulted in decreasing air pollutant emissions per produced seat mile (PSM) by 43% from 2006 to 2012. In addition, STM achieved a 17% reduction in electricity use and a 7% reduction in fuel use per PSM over this period.

Among STM’s signature policies are an initiative to pursue LEED certification for all new buildings, as well as a policy to reduce emissions by purchasing only electric vehicles by 2025.

Launched in 2009, the APTA Sustainability Commitment program recognizes and encourages public transit agencies and businesses to make a voluntary commitment to putting processes and actions into place which allow for continuous improvement on environmental, social and economic sustainability.