APTA is pleased to recognize the First Place winners of its 2024 AdWheel Awards, announced February 13, 2024. The awards go to APTA member systems and business members for outstanding marketing, communications, and customer experience efforts that contributed to strategic organizational goals.
374 entries were evaluated by dozens of industry experts and 68 First Place awards were presented in three categories:
- Best marketing and communications on workforce development,
- Campaigns to increase ridership or sales,
- Other educational efforts (including projects to highlight transit needs and funding)
Each of the three categories features five tactical subcategories:
- Print Media
- Electronic Media
- Special Event
- Social Media
- Comprehensive Campaign
| System/Business | Entry Title | Category | Subcategory | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Texas Council of Governments | 2023 GoBus Hiring Event | Best Marketing and Communciations Workforce Development | Special Event | Group 1: Providing 3 million or fewer annual passenger trips |
| Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA) | A Full Bus for a Good Cause: MVTA's Campaign to Feed the Community | Best Marketing and Communications Educational Initiative | Special Event | Group 1: Providing 3 million or fewer annual passenger trips |
| Bi-State Development Agency (dba Metro) | A LOT MORE "IF MONEY TALKS" TRADESHOW VIDEO | Best Marketing and Communications Educational Initiative | Electronic Media | Group 3: Providing more than 15 million but fewer than 50 million annual passenger trips |
| AC Transit (Alameda Contra-Costa Transit District) | AC Transit Valentine's Day Cards | Best Marketing and Communications to Increase Ridership or Sales | Electronic Media | Group 3: Providing more than 15 million but fewer than 50 million annual passenger trips |
| Siemens Mobility, Inc. | APTA EXPO 2023 Resource Guide | Best Marketing and Communications Educational Initiative | Special Event | Group 5: Business members |
| Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority | Barbie Takes VTA | Best Marketing and Communications to Increase Ridership or Sales | Social Media | Group 3: Providing more than 15 million but fewer than 50 million annual passenger trips |
| San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) | BART Anime Mascots to Engage Youth | Best Marketing and Communications to Increase Ridership or Sales | Special Event | Group 3: Providing more than 15 million but fewer than 50 million annual passenger trips |
| San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District | BART Police Recruitment Advertising Campaign | Best Marketing and Communciations Workforce Development | Electronic Media | Group 3: Providing more than 15 million but fewer than 50 million annual passenger trips |
| Beaver County Transit Authority | BCTA Summer Pass Campaign to increase Youth Ridership | Best Marketing and Communications to Increase Ridership or Sales | Comprehensive Campaign | Group 1: Providing 3 million or fewer annual passenger trips |
| Toronto Transit Commission | Be Essential | Best Marketing and Communciations Workforce Development | Comprehensive Campaign | Group 4: Providing 50 million or more annual passenger trips |
| Ben Franklin Transit | BFT Mechanic Recruitment Video | Best Marketing and Communciations Workforce Development | Electronic Media | Group 1: Providing 3 million or fewer annual passenger trips |
| Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority | Bus Operator Hiring Campaign - Dance Challenge Videos | Best Marketing and Communciations Workforce Development | Social Media | Group 4: Providing 50 million or more annual passenger trips |
| Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority | Bus Priority Lanes - Social Media | Best Marketing and Communications Educational Initiative | Social Media | Group 4: Providing 50 million or more annual passenger trips |
| Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) | California Clean Air Day | Best Marketing and Communications to Increase Ridership or Sales | Special Event | Group 2: Providing more than 3 million but fewer than 15 million annual passenger trips |
| San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) | Caltrain Electric Train Posters | Best Marketing and Communications Educational Initiative | Print Media | Group 2: Providing more than 3 million but fewer than 15 million annual passenger trips |
| San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) | Caltrain EMU Public Tours | Best Marketing and Communications Educational Initiative | Special Event | Group 2: Providing more than 3 million but fewer than 15 million annual passenger trips |
| OMNITRANS | Career Path Recruiting Campaign Increases Applications by 25% | Best Marketing and Communciations Workforce Development | Social Media | Group 2: Providing more than 3 million but fewer than 15 million annual passenger trips |
| Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority | CCRTA Career Fair Print Media | Best Marketing and Communciations Workforce Development | Print Media | Group 1: Providing 3 million or fewer annual passenger trips |
| Complete Coach Works | CCW's Recruitment Print Initiative | Best Marketing and Communciations Workforce Development | Print Media | Group 5: Business members |
| Complete Coach Works | CCW's Recruitment Video Initiative | Best Marketing and Communciations Workforce Development | Electronic Media | Group 5: Business members |
| Waccamaw Regional Transportation Authority | Coast RTA's "Tap to Cap" Cashless Fare Payment Campaign | Best Marketing and Communications to Increase Ridership or Sales | Electronic Media | Group 1: Providing 3 million or fewer annual passenger trips |
| Snohomish County Public Transportation Benefit Area Corporation (dba Community Transit) | Community Transit's Destinations Print Ads to Promote Awareness, Positive Perception & Ridership | Best Marketing and Communications to Increase Ridership or Sales | Print Media | Group 2: Providing more than 3 million but fewer than 15 million annual passenger trips |
| Foothill Transit | Foothill Transit's Hydrogen Fuel Cell Social Creator Campaign for Environmental Awareness of New Hydrogen Buses | Best Marketing and Communications Educational Initiative | Social Media | Group 2: Providing more than 3 million but fewer than 15 million annual passenger trips |
| Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority | Greater Dayton RTA - Caring for our Community | Best Marketing and Communications Educational Initiative | Comprehensive Campaign | Group 2: Providing more than 3 million but fewer than 15 million annual passenger trips |
| Greenville Transit Authority | Greenlink Poetry Project: Moving Words, Moving People – A Campaign to Create Emotional Connections to the Lives of Local Bus Riders | Best Marketing and Communications Educational Initiative | Comprehensive Campaign | Group 1: Providing 3 million or fewer annual passenger trips |
| Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority | Holding on to Our VTA Employees | Best Marketing and Communciations Workforce Development | Social Media | Group 3: Providing more than 15 million but fewer than 50 million annual passenger trips |
| Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority | HR on the GO/Hiring on the Spot | Best Marketing and Communciations Workforce Development | Special Event | Group 4: Providing 50 million or more annual passenger trips |
| Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority | Human Trafficking Happens Everywhere | Best Marketing and Communications Educational Initiative | Special Event | Group 3: Providing more than 15 million but fewer than 50 million annual passenger trips |
| Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA) | HUZZAH! MVTA's Campaign to Reduce Traffic Congestion | Best Marketing and Communications to Increase Ridership or Sales | Special Event | Group 1: Providing 3 million or fewer annual passenger trips |
| California High-Speed Rail Authority | I Will Ride Student Outreach Program, California High-Speed Rail Authority | Best Marketing and Communciations Workforce Development | Comprehensive Campaign | Group 5: Business members |
| Jacksonville Transportation Authority | JTA Shark Tank Competition Helps Businesses Dive into JTA Contracting Opportunities | Best Marketing and Communciations Workforce Development | Special Event | Group 2: Providing more than 3 million but fewer than 15 million annual passenger trips |
| Kansas City Streetcar Authority | KC Streetcar - "Next Stop: Love What You Do" Employee Recruitment Campaign | Best Marketing and Communciations Workforce Development | Social Media | Group 1: Providing 3 million or fewer annual passenger trips |
| Lane Transit District | Lane Transit District Employee Recruitment Video | Best Marketing and Communciations Workforce Development | Electronic Media | Group 2: Providing more than 3 million but fewer than 15 million annual passenger trips |
| Lane Transit District | Lane Transit District Recruitment Campaign | Best Marketing and Communciations Workforce Development | Comprehensive Campaign | Group 2: Providing more than 3 million but fewer than 15 million annual passenger trips |
| Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District (MetroLink) | Late Night 53 College Campaign | Best Marketing and Communications Educational Initiative | Social Media | Group 1: Providing 3 million or fewer annual passenger trips |
| Transit app | Making sense of detours: how Transit app improved the customer experience when service doesn’t go as planned | Best Marketing and Communications to Increase Ridership or Sales | Electronic Media | Group 5: Business members |
| Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority | MARTA Celebrates 50 Years of Hip Hop | Best Marketing and Communications to Increase Ridership or Sales | Social Media | Group 4: Providing 50 million or more annual passenger trips |
| Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority | Metro Regional Connector Grand Opening | Best Marketing and Communications to Increase Ridership or Sales | Print Media | Group 4: Providing 50 million or more annual passenger trips |
| Metropolitan Transportation Authority | Metropolitan Transportation Authority Courtesy Counts Campaign | Best Marketing and Communications Educational Initiative | Comprehensive Campaign | Group 4: Providing 50 million or more annual passenger trips |
| RideCo Inc. | Milpitas SMART, the Smart Way for Milpitas Residents to Travel Around Town | Best Marketing and Communications to Increase Ridership or Sales | Comprehensive Campaign | Group 5: Business members |
| Milwaukee County Transit System | Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) Averts Fiscal Cliff with “Save The Bus†Campaign | Best Marketing and Communications Educational Initiative | Comprehensive Campaign | Group 3: Providing more than 15 million but fewer than 50 million annual passenger trips |
| Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority | Next Stop: Record breaking ridership on the Amtrak Downeaster | Best Marketing and Communications to Increase Ridership or Sales | Comprehensive Campaign | Group 1: Providing 3 million or fewer annual passenger trips |
| Orange County Transportation Authority | OCTA "Savings Pass" Campaign to increase OC Bus Ridership | Best Marketing and Communications to Increase Ridership or Sales | Comprehensive Campaign | Group 3: Providing more than 15 million but fewer than 50 million annual passenger trips |
| Orange County Transportation Authority | OCTA's OC Flex "Group Ride" Brochure | Best Marketing and Communications to Increase Ridership or Sales | Print Media | Group 3: Providing more than 15 million but fewer than 50 million annual passenger trips |
| Palm Tran- | Palm Tran Rear Bus Ads | Best Marketing and Communciations Workforce Development | Print Media | Group 2: Providing more than 3 million but fewer than 15 million annual passenger trips |
| Transit app | Preview Mode: Miami-Dade County and Transit app partner to help riders prepare for Better Bus Network launch | Best Marketing and Communications Educational Initiative | Electronic Media | Group 5: Business members |
| Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority | Promoting Safety is Taking on a Whole New Image for VTA | Best Marketing and Communications Educational Initiative | Social Media | Group 3: Providing more than 15 million but fewer than 50 million annual passenger trips |
| Sure-Lok, Inc. | Q'Straint "Put a Q in it" | Best Marketing and Communications Educational Initiative | Comprehensive Campaign | Group 5: Business members |
| RATP Dev | RATP Dev USA History of Transit Coloring Book | Best Marketing and Communications Educational Initiative | Print Media | Group 5: Business members |
| Park City Transit | Rebranding Park City Transit | Best Marketing and Communciations Workforce Development | Comprehensive Campaign | Group 1: Providing 3 million or fewer annual passenger trips |
| Mid-Region Council of Governments | Rio Metro RTD Rail Safety PSA | Best Marketing and Communications Educational Initiative | Electronic Media | Group 1: Providing 3 million or fewer annual passenger trips |
| Regional Transportation District | RTD Military Recruitment Campaign | Best Marketing and Communciations Workforce Development | Electronic Media | Group 4: Providing 50 million or more annual passenger trips |
| Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District | Santa Cruz METRO Youth Cruz Free | Best Marketing and Communications to Increase Ridership or Sales | Social Media | Group 2: Providing more than 3 million but fewer than 15 million annual passenger trips |
| Stark Area Regional Transit Authority | SARTAversary 2nd Quarter 2023 Community Partners Campaign | Best Marketing and Communications Educational Initiative | Print Media | Group 1: Providing 3 million or fewer annual passenger trips |
| AC Transit (Alameda Contra-Costa Transit District) | Spring Into Your New Career Hiring Event | Best Marketing and Communciations Workforce Development | Special Event | Group 3: Providing more than 15 million but fewer than 50 million annual passenger trips |
| Spokane Transit Authority | STA - City Line Service Begins - Commercials | Best Marketing and Communications to Increase Ridership or Sales | Electronic Media | Group 2: Providing more than 3 million but fewer than 15 million annual passenger trips |
| Spokane Transit Authority | STA - That's Bussin' - Video Series | Best Marketing and Communications Educational Initiative | Electronic Media | Group 2: Providing more than 3 million but fewer than 15 million annual passenger trips |
| Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) | Student Adventure Pass | Best Marketing and Communications to Increase Ridership or Sales | Comprehensive Campaign | Group 2: Providing more than 3 million but fewer than 15 million annual passenger trips |
| Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority | Taylor Swift Eras Tour Special Service | Best Marketing and Communications to Increase Ridership or Sales | Comprehensive Campaign | Group 4: Providing 50 million or more annual passenger trips |
| Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation | The 10K Campaign - the Virginia Breeze | Best Marketing and Communications to Increase Ridership or Sales | Social Media | Group 1: Providing 3 million or fewer annual passenger trips |
| North Central Regional Transit District | The Blue Bus: Rebranding NCRTD | Best Marketing and Communications to Increase Ridership or Sales | Print Media | Group 1: Providing 3 million or fewer annual passenger trips |
| Calgary Transit | Transit Trailblazers Scavenger Hunt | Best Marketing and Communications Educational Initiative | Special Event | Group 4: Providing 50 million or more annual passenger trips |
| South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (TransLink) | TransLink - What's the T Podcast: transforming how we communicate with customers | Best Marketing and Communications Educational Initiative | Electronic Media | Group 4: Providing 50 million or more annual passenger trips |
| Utah Transit Authority | UTA Road Therapy Educational Initiative | Best Marketing and Communications Educational Initiative | Electronic Media | Group 3: Providing more than 15 million but fewer than 50 million annual passenger trips |
| Valley Metro | Valley Metro Super Bowl Campaign | Best Marketing and Communications to Increase Ridership or Sales | Comprehensive Campaign | Group 3: Providing more than 15 million but fewer than 50 million annual passenger trips |
| VIA Metropolitan Transit | VIA "Hiring Superheroes" Campaign to increase applications for operator positions and maintenance technicians. | Best Marketing and Communciations Workforce Development | Comprehensive Campaign | Group 3: Providing more than 15 million but fewer than 50 million annual passenger trips |
| Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority | Wally Takes the T | Best Marketing and Communications to Increase Ridership or Sales | Electronic Media | Group 4: Providing 50 million or more annual passenger trips |
| Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) | WMATA Education Campaign for Major Blue and Yellow Line Construction | Best Marketing and Communications Educational Initiative | Comprehensive Campaign | Group 4: Providing 50 million or more annual passenger trips |
