SEPTA takes top prize at APTA rail rodeo

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) won the Rail Transit Achievement Award at the Eleventh Annual Rail Rodeo, held in conjunction with the American Public Transportation Association's Rail Transit Conference in San Jose, Calif. SEPTA earned fourth place in the operator and second place in the maintainer competitions, garnering enough points to win the overall prize. The award is given to the operator and maintainer team that has the highest score of all 17 rail transit systems in this year's competition. First and second place in the operator competition went to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and the Dallas Area Rapid Transit District, respectively. The operators' competition measured professional skills including train operations, knowledge of safety regulations, train equipment and track right-of-way rules and procedures. In the maintainer's competition, first place went to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. A total of 17 North American rail systems with 27 operators and 33 maintainers participated in the rodeo.