News Story

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) on June 24 reported the 13 North American organizations and leaders earning its annual awards for “vision, leadership and commitment to public transportation,” plus the induction of six new members into the APTA Hall of Fame.

The 2025 APTA Awards recognize organizations and transit leaders “who have demonstrated significant leadership, are outstanding role models of excellence, and whose accomplishments and innovations have greatly advanced public transportation,” according to the association.

And the honorees are:

ORGANIZATION AWARDS

Outstanding Public Transportation System:

• Monterey-Salinas Transit, Monterey, Calif.–3 million or fewer annual passenger trips.
• Metropolitan Regional Transit Authority, Akron, Ohio–More than 3 million but fewer than 15 million annual passenger trips.
• Utah Transit Authority (UTA), Salt Lake City, Utah–More than 15 million but fewer than 50 million annual passenger trips. “This achievement is shared by each employee, our customers, our partners, our contractors, and our supporters and taxpayer investors in this innovative state, who recognize the investment and value of having a world-class regional transportation system,” said UTA Executive Director Jay Fox in a statement. “To be recognized for UTA’s resilience and growth in service and ridership is something the whole state can be proud of.”
• Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Washington, D.C.–50 million or more annual passenger trips.

Outstanding Partnership in Public Transportation:

• WMATA, Washington, D.C; Kimley-Horn and Foursquare Integrated Transportation Planning.

INNOVATION AWARDS

• Oklahoma Transit Association, Oklahoma City, Okla.
• Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), New York, N.Y.
• Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet), Portland, Ore.
• Sound Transit, Seattle, Wash.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

Distinguished Service:

• Matthew Welbes, Executive Director, Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Chief Executive Officer:

• Kenneth A. McDonald, Long Beach Transit, Long Beach, Calif.

Outstanding Public Transportation Board Member:

• David M. Stackrow, Capital District Transportation Authority, Albany, N.Y.

Outstanding Public Transportation Business Member:

• Francis “Buddy Coleman,” Chief Customer Officer and Principal, Clever Devices, Woodbury, N.Y.

HALL OF FAME

• Frank DiGiacomo, Torrence, Calif. (posthumous).
• Mark Donaghy, Petersburg, Ky.
• Jeanne Krieg, Antioch, Calif.
• Feysan Lodde, Dallas, Texas.
• William R. Mooney III, Chicago, Ill. (posthumous).
• Peter Varga, Grand Rapids, Mich.

“It is my honor to congratulate the winners of the 2025 APTA Awards and the Hall of Fame inductees for their dedication to advancing the future of public transportation, creating vital connections between communities, and driving innovation,” said MJ Maynard-Carey, APTA Board Chair and CEO, Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada.

“The achievements and legacies of our awardees inspire us all to continue striving for excellence in our industry and to making a lasting impact on the lives of countless individuals,” said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. “Congratulations to all who have been recognized for their accomplishments and for making positive impacts in their communities and our industry.”

The 2025 APTA Awards will be presented at TRANSform, Sept. 14-17 in Boston, Mass.