APTA Honors Top Marketing, Communications & Customer Experience Work2025 AdWheel Grand Award winners presented in front of 3,000 transit professionals at TRANSform Conference's[...]

APTA Honors Top Marketing, Communications & Customer Experience Work
2025 AdWheel Grand Award winners presented in front of 3,000 transit professionals at TRANSform Conference's APTA Honors Ceremony

Washington, DC - (September 23, 2025) - The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) celebrated the most outstanding marketing, communications, and customer experience initiatives in the public transportation industry during the annual AdWheel Awards, held September 16 during the TRANSform conference APTA Honors Luncheon.

The AdWheel program recognizes APTA member public transportation systems and business members whose work advances strategic organizational goals and raises awareness of best practices.

This year's competition drew 335 entries, which were then assessed by hundreds of industry experts. Grand Awards were presented to 15 distinguished winners, selected across three categories: Workforce Development, Increasing Ridership or Sales, and Educational Initiatives.

"Marketing, communications, and customer experience are essential to achieving our mission in public transportation-connecting people to jobs, education, healthcare, shopping, and wherever community members want to go" said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. "We're proud to highlight these exemplary efforts that not only elevate ridership and strengthen passenger engagement but also foster innovation and workforce development across the transit industry."

Awards by Category

Best Marketing & Communications on Workforce Development Grand Award winners:

• San Joaquin RTD, Stockton, CA - Operator Recruitment (fewer than 3 million annual passenger trips)
• Community Transit, Everett, WA - Advertising to Recruit Mechanics (3-15 million trips)
• CapMetro, Austin, TX - CapMetro Recruiting (15-50 million trips)
• Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), Atlanta, GA - Celebrating LGBTQ Employees (over 50 million trips)
• RATP Dev, Fort Worth, TX - Veteran Recruiting Campaign (Business Member)

Best Marketing & Communications to Increase Ridership or Sales:

• Valley Regional Transit, Meridian, ID - "Let's Ride, BOI" (fewer than 3 million trips)
• RTC of Washoe County, Reno, NV - "Get on Board" (3-15 million trips)
• Sound Transit, Seattle, WA - Light Rail Expansion Campaign (15-50 million trips)
• Toronto Transit Commission, Toronto - "Swift Moves" (over 50 million trips)
• Transit App, Montreal, QC - Riders Choice Awards (Business Member)

Best Marketing & Communications Educational Initiative:

• Mountain Line, Flagstaff, AZ - Passing of Prop 488 (fewer than 3 million trips)
• Santa Cruz METRO, Santa Cruz, CA - One Ride at a Time Campaign (3-15 million trips)
• CapMetro, Austin, TX - McKalla Station Launch (15-50 million trips)
• WMATA, Washington, DC - Better Bus Network Redesign (over 50 million trips)
• Transit App - Campaign to Get Voters to the Polls (Business Member)

About the APTA AdWheel Awards

The AdWheel Awards are an annual program of the American Public Transportation Association. The Awards encourage and recognize excellence in marketing, communications, and customer experience among transit agencies and their business partners. Winner case studies are shared broadly to serve as models and inspiration.

For more information, like full case study summaries of the winners, visit apta.com/adwheel or contact Stephen Kendrick at [email protected].

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