MENU
SEARCHFrom OK TOURS and Peter Pan to Innovative Solutions and Women in Transportation, we highlight our award winners who defined 2025.
METRO Magazine’s 2025 award winners were recognized for leadership, innovation, and lasting impact across the motorcoach and public transit industry.
Photo: METRO
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!!!
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
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
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 Now in its 11th year, the awards highlight forward-thinking projects that replaced outdated systems and delivered measurable operational and service improvements across North America.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
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.
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
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.
Erin Hockman will officially assume the role on May 7, as current CEO Amanda Wanke departs to take a leadership position with Metro Transit in the Twin Cities.
Read More →
The survey showed that commute trips still make up the majority of ridership, with most riders boarding 2 to 3 days a week, reflecting hybrid work schedules. Two-thirds of Caltrain riders have access to a car, while 37% of Caltrain riders are considered low-income.
Read More →
The changes are designed to reduce overall travel time, shorten wait times, and get customers to their destinations more quickly.
Read More →
The plan outlines strategies to protect transit infrastructure from extreme weather, prioritize critical investments, and improve system reliability as climate risks intensify.
Read More →
In this edition, we cover recent appointments and announcements at MCTS, Voith, and more, showcasing the individuals helping to shape the future of transportation.
Read More →
Advances in data and analytics are giving transit agencies new opportunities to refine maintenance practices, improve efficiency and make more informed decisions about asset performance.
Read More →
Connectpoint is enhancing its digital signage strategy by integrating LED technology into its services.
Read More →
Today’s riders—and the communities you serve—expect more from public transit. While ADA compliance is required, leading transit agencies know that true accessibility also means delivering dignity, efficiency, and a better rider experience. This whitepaper reveals why forward thinking agencies nationwide choose the Low Floor Frontrunner as their first choice for ADA compliant vehicles—setting a new standard with passenger first design, faster boarding, improved safety, and unmatched operational performance.
Read More →
New ID requirements for employers and service providers aim to improve data accuracy and oversight for motorcoach and commercial drivers.
Read More →
Maryland to rebid major bridge contract as the Build America Bureau commits $20 million to accelerate project planning and public-private partnerships across 17 states.
Read More →