APTA Honors Public Transportation Organizations, Leaders
The 2022 APTA Awards recognize organizations and leaders in the public transportation industry in North America who have demonstrated significant leadership, are outstanding role models of excellence, and whose accomplishments and innovations have advanced public transportation.
SCOPE’s multifaceted approach helps SEPTA direct the full spectrum of its resources toward identifying problems, recommending and implementing strategies, building community and institutional partnerships, and ultimately connecting people to services such as housing and mental health care.
Credit:
SEPTA
5 min to read
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is honoring nine organizations and leaders with awards for their vision, leadership, and commitment to public transportation. The association is also inducting four new members into the prestigious APTA Hall of Fame.
The 2022 APTA Awards recognize organizations and leaders in the public transportation industry in North America who have demonstrated significant leadership, are outstanding role models of excellence, and whose accomplishments and innovations have advanced public transportation.
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“Congratulations to all those being recognized for their accomplishments and for making their communities’ daily lives better,” said APTA President/CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. “Our four inductees into the APTA Hall of Fame are all professionals that I am lucky to call friends, and their dedication to our industry will have an impact for decades.”
ORGANIZATION AWARDS
OUTSTANDING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - 4 MILLION OR FEWER TRIPS: C-TRAN, Vancouver, Wash. -C-TRAN, celebrating 40 years of service, has experienced three years of tremendous growth and broke ground on its second BRT line in 2021, including 37 new stations, complementing the region’s first existing rapid transit system, The Vine. Other important initiatives included two new bus-on-shoulder corridors in the Vancouver-Portland region and plans to construct a new transit center. The agency also installed custom protective barriers on all service vehicles in its fleet, created an employee-led diversity team, developed an agency-wide sustainability policy, and set an example by becoming a certified Green Business. C-TRAN’s employees know that they are more than employees and are also community stewards, striving to make Clark County a better place to live and work by embodying the “Our Community, Our Promise” mission.
Few public transit agencies in the U.S. have made the commitment KCATA has made to breaking down barriers in new mobility services.
Credit:
KCATA
OUTSTANDING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM ACHIEVEMENT AWARD- MORE THAN 4 MILLION BUT FEWER THAN 20 MILLION TRIPS: Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) Kansas City, Mo. - Few public transit agencies in the U.S. have made the commitment KCATA has made to breaking down barriers in new mobility services. Its groundbreaking initiatives have resulted in a national dialogue around the impacts of fare policy. The agency has piloted innovative mobility solutions and benchmarked results and shared those learnings with the industry so that others may benefit both from its successes and its challenges. KCATA’s history of launching zero-fare options over the last six years has led it to commit to zero fares through at least 2023. The Zero Fare program has been a major contributor to the sustainability of the agency and has had a positive impact on the people, community, and economy of Kansas City. In addition, KCATA’s successes include its post-pandemic ridership rebounding to 80 percent of 2019 levels, and a policy calling for an initial fleet of 25 zero-emission buses to be in service in the next five years. These advancements are helping to change the local, regional, and national transit landscape.
OUTSTANDING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM ACHIEVEMENT AWARD- 20 MILLION OR MORE TRIPS: Port Authority Trans Hudson (PATH) Jersey City, N.J. - While PATH has been in service for more than 110 years, it is still an ever-evolving agency and consistently strives for improvement. After launching the PATH Improvement Plan to focus on addressing its most significant challenges, the agency has added more trains, reduced delays, and focused on the customer experience to improve the rides of its daily passengers. With 52 percent fewer delays and significant improvement in reliability, combined with capital improvements, construction of a new station, station modifications and new railcar purchases, PATH is working tirelessly to meet the demands of its riders. In 2021, the agency completed an overhaul of its railcar air brake system, introduced enhanced maintenance training for signaling staff, added a new data-drive track infrastructure program and rehabilitated the HVAC system on its railcars. PATH has a commitment to providing best-in-class service, and is working to improve, innovate and excel for its customers—from the Ironbound in Newark, along Jersey City’s waterfront, down Hoboken’s cobbled streets and everywhere in between.
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INNOVATION AWARDS
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Philadelphia - In 2021, the agency launched its SCOPE initiative (Safety, Cleaning, Ownership, Partnership and Engagement) and achieved three overarching goals: to ensure a safe and clean working environment for all SEPTA employees, provide a safe and clean travel experience for customers, and connect vulnerable individuals to vital services and resources. SCOPE’s multifaceted approach helps SEPTA direct the full spectrum of its resources toward identifying problems, recommending and implementing strategies, building community and institutional partnerships, and ultimately connecting people to services such as housing and mental health care. Rather than approach these issues purely as a law enforcement problem, SCOPE has allowed SEPTA to form innovative partnerships with social service non-profits, universities, and local governments to connect people to community resources. SEPTA has committed to go beyond its role as a transit service provider to become a community resource for positive change.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD - Joseph J. Giulietti, Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Transportation - With an exemplary career spanning more than 50 years in the transit industry, Commissioner Giulietti has been instrumental in advancing and completing transportation projects in Connecticut and the wider region. As a member of the Executive Committee of the Northeast Corridor Commission (NEC), he helped develop the NEC Connect 35 Plan, endorsed by state governments of the Northeast, the federal government, eight commuter rail agencies, and Amtrak.
OUTSTANDING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION MANAGER - Rick Leary, Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), Toronto - Throughout his 40-year career in public transportation, Rick Leary’s passion for making a difference through the advancement of public transit has left a lasting legacy at each organization and city where he has worked. He began his career as a train attendant in 1984 in Boston, and today is the CEO of North America’s third largest public transit agency.
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OUTSTANDING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BOARD MEMBERS
Anne McEnerny-Ogle, C-TRAN, Vancouver.
Valarie J. McCall, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, Cleveland.
OUTSTANDING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATON BUSINESS MEMBER
Jannet Walker-Ford, National Transit & Rail Business Line Leader, WSP USA Inc.
The tour reflects LIT’s commitment to supporting professional growth, collaboration, and opportunity for individuals at all career stages within the transit industry, according to LIT officials.
Curated and facilitated by transportation industry leaders, LITLA provides a high-quality, structured learning experience that combines theoretical knowledge, professional networking, and practical leadership application.
Drawing on decades of industry experience, Evans-Benson offered insights into the differences between the two, along with tips for better customer engagement and more.
METRO Executive Editor Alex Roman presented the award to the operation’s President/CEO Scott Parsons at the United Motorcoach Association’s EXPO in Birmingham, Alabama.
The brand strategy was developed based on input from RTA board members, staff, and stakeholders, along with secondary research conducted over a months-long process.
In close coordination with regional partners including Caltrain and BART, the agency ensured convenient interagency connections and seamless transfers for game-day passengers.
Because rail has high fixed costs and low marginal savings, it is impossible to close the projected FY27 $376M deficit with service cuts and fare increases alone, said agency officials.
The total ridership includes all fixed-route bus service, C-VAN paratransit service, The Current, Vanpool, and special event service. Almost all individual routes saw year-over-year increases from 2024 to 2025.
