Miss This? METRO and SBF's Frank Di Giacomo Named to APTA's Hall of Fame
2025 Year in Review: METRO’s Award Winners and Industry Changemakers
From OK TOURS and Peter Pan to Innovative Solutions and Women in Transportation, we highlight our award winners who defined 2025.
December 29, 2025
METRO Magazine’s 2025 award winners were recognized for leadership, innovation, and lasting impact across the motorcoach and public transit industry.
Photo: METRO
3 min to read
This year, we saw standout operators and groundbreaking agency-supplier partnerships. METRO’s 2025 awards recognized the people and programs pushing public transportation and motorcoach forward.
As we look back on 2025, these honorees tell the story of an industry evolving fast, and the new Frank Di Giacomo Leadership Award will carry that momentum into 2026.
Here’s a look at our award winners from the year:
OK TOURS' innovative approach to social media marketing has resulted in the company building an organic following across multiple platforms.
Photo: OK TOURS!!!
OK TOURS Named METRO's Innovative Operator of the Year
In February, San Antonio–based OK TOURS was named METRO Magazine’s 2025 Innovative Motorcoach Operator of the Year at ABA Marketplace in Philadelphia, recognized for its leadership in safety, customer experience, and creative marketing.
The company stood out for its strong digital engagement, modern fleet, and advanced safety technology, earning national recognition for a team-driven approach to innovation.
Peter Pan has been able to keep itself fresh over its 90-plus years by leveraging technology to enhance the passenger experience.
Photo: Peter Pan Bus Lines
Peter Pan Bus Lines Recognized As METRO’s Motorcoach Operator of the Year
In late February, Peter Pan Bus Lines was named METRO’s Motorcoach Operator of the Year at the UMA Expo for its decades-long commitment to reliability, innovation, and customer service, paired with a strong fourth-generation, family-owned culture.
The company stood out for leveraging technology to modernize the passenger experience, expanding service through strategic partnerships, and investing in workforce growth while maintaining uninterrupted operations through industry challenges.
In partnership with Connectpoint, TriMet has launched one of the country’s most ambitious deployments of solar-powered ePaper digital signage, bringing real-time information to stops and stations that were once out of reach.
Photo: Connectpoint/TriMet
METRO’s 2025 Innovative Solutions Award Recipients
We announced the winners of the 2025 Innovative Solutions Awards in August, recognizing bus and rail agencies and supplier partners for initiatives that improved efficiency, safety, mobility, and customer experience. Now in its 11th year, the awards highlight forward-thinking projects that replaced outdated systems and delivered measurable operational and service improvements across North America.
Our 2025 Women in Transportation spotlight leaders driving impact across public transit and motorcoach mobility, from rural innovation to executive leadership.
Photo: METRO
2025 Women in Transportation
Toward the end of the year, we revealed our Women in Transportation who are reshaping the future of transportation and redefining what leadership looks like in an industry long dominated by men.
From Julie Chalmer’s strategic approach to building stronger, more efficient motorcoach operations, to Barbara Cline’s unwavering focus on rural mobility and accessible service for all, to MJ Mayned-Carey’s transformative leadership guiding one of the nation’s most dynamic transit agencies, each of these women exemplifies excellence and purpose.
Read their stories:
Julie Chalmers’ Path from Family Legacy to Leadership Success
How Barbara Cline Built One of South Dakota’s Most Vital Transit Systems
MJ Maynard Talks Advocacy, Mentorship, and the Future of Transit
New Award Coming in 2026
At our Public Transit & Technology Exchange (PTTX) in Scottsdale, Arizona, we announced the launch of a new award to honor long-time METRO and School Bus Fleet Publisher Frank Di Giacomo. The award will be named the Frank Di Giacomo Leadership Award, and will recognize an individual whose vision, dedication, and leadership have made a lasting impact on the public transit industry.
Honorees will embody the spirit of innovation, collaboration, and service that Di Giacomo championed throughout his career, elevating buses as essential connectors in communities across North America.
Look for more information soon.
More Management
FIFA World Cup Matches Are Driving Record Transit Ridership Nationwide
See how World Cup matches are generating record transit demand across North America, with ridership surpassing Super Bowls, concerts, and Olympic-era events.
Read More →
The Hidden Cost of Fuel Data Inaccuracy in Public Transit Fleets
In today's transit environment, accurate fuel and mileage data are critical to reducing costs, minimizing downtime, and improving fleet performance.
Read More →
Virginia's $28.5B Transportation Plan Targets Transit and Rail
Approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, the program supports ongoing infrastructure projects while providing new investments in transit, state of good repair and transportation alternatives.
Read More →
Latinos In Transit Seeks Host Organization for 2027 Leadership Summit
The selected host organization will showcase its transit system, projects, and community while welcoming hundreds of industry leaders and emerging professionals during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Read More →
Bipartisan BUSES Act Seeks Changes to New York City's Bus Idling Enforcement Program
Backed by motorcoach operators, the legislation seeks to balance emissions goals with passenger safety by allowing limited idling for inspections, accessibility needs and extreme weather conditions.
Read More →
DOT: Brightline Corridor Incidents Fall 30% Following Federal Safety Upgrades
Safety improvements funded through a $25 million federal investment are credited with reducing trespassing and train-vehicle collisions along the Brightline Florida corridor.
Read More →
D Line Expansion Fuels Growth Across LA Metro's Rail System
Weekend rail ridership was especially strong, soaring 18% as riders embraced expanded access to jobs, entertainment, dining, and cultural destinations, said the agency. Total system ridership for May, including bus and rail, was 26,966,657.
Read More →
Q4 Travel Data Reveals Drop in Vehicle Traffic to Manhattan Congestion Zone
NYMTC’s quarterly Travel Patterns Report provides a snapshot of travel activity throughout New York City, Long Island, the Lower Hudson Valley, and northern New Jersey using data collected from the agencies operating the region’s bridges, tunnels, and public transit systems.
Read More →
Southern California's Metrolink Debuts Contactless Fare Payment Pilot
Customers traveling between Redlands and Los Angeles can now tap their preferred payment method, including a credit or debit card, mobile wallet, or wearable device, at station validators before boarding and again while exiting.
Read More →
California's BART Approves FY27 Budget While Maintaining Service Levels
The budget covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, a period when pandemic emergency funds run out, the District faces a structural deficit of $375 million, and a regional transit funding measure may appear on the November ballot.
Read More →