On Oct. 6, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) honored the top public transportation agencies and transit leaders in the U.S. at the 2009 APTA Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla.

Three public transportation agencies, competing in three different categories based on annual ridership, were honored with the 2009 Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award for having demonstrated achievement in efficiency and effectiveness from 2006 to 2008. 

The winners were:

• Metropolitan Transit System, San Diego, Calif. (Category: Providing more than 30 million annual passenger trips)

• Intercity Transit, Olympia, Wash. (Category: Providing more than 4 million but fewer than 30 million annual passenger trips)

• Greater Lynchburg Transit Company, Lynchburg, Va. (Category: Providing more than 1 million but fewer than 4 million annual passenger trips)

The Innovation Award is an award given to public transit agencies that demonstrate innovative concepts in the provision of public transportation services. The recipient of the 2009 Innovation Award is Utah Transit Authority, Salt Lake City.

 This year’s 2009 APTA Awards also recognized six individuals whose contributions have advanced public transportation:

• John B. Catoe, Jr. (General Manager, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Washington, D.C.) is the 2009 recipient of the Outstanding Public Transportation Manager Award, which is given to a public transportation manager who has made outstanding contributions to the public transportation industry. 

• Bernard J. Ford is the recipient of the 2009 Hall of Fame Award, given to an individual who has had a long and distinguished career in the industry; who has made extraordinary contributions to public transportation; and who has actively participated in APTA activities. 

• Gregory J. Nickels (Board Chair, Sound Transit, Seattle, Wash.) and David M. Stackrow (Board Chairman, Capital District Transportation Authority, Albany, N.Y.) are the 2009 recipients of the Outstanding Public Transportation Board Member Award. This award is given to an individual serving on the governing board of a public transportation system who has made outstanding contributions to the public transportation industry. 

• Dr. Delon Hampton (Chairman, Delon Hampton & Associates, Washington, D.C.) is the 2009 recipient of the Outstanding Public Transportation Business Member Award. This award is given to an APTA public transportation business member who has made outstanding contributions to the public transportation industry.  

• Tim Solso (Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cummins, Inc., Columbus, Ind.) is the 2009 recipient of the Outstanding Business Executive of the Year Award, which recognizes the outstanding contributions of an executive who has taken a leadership role in improving his or her company and has made significant contributions to the community and public transportation.  

For more information on the 2009 APTA Award winners, go to http://www.apta.com/members/memberprogramsandservices/awards/Pages/APTAAwards.aspx.