SWTA Announces Spotlight Award Winners
The South West Transit Association (SWTA) announced its 26TH Annual Spotlight Award winners during the Transit Marketing Workshop held at Beaver Run Conference Center, Breckenridge, Colorado.
The Spotlight Award is the oldest transit marketing and advertising award given in the United States and is awarded for excellence in a total transit marketing campaign with a “biggest-bang-for-the-buck” emphasis.
The 2015 Spotlight award was presented to Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) for its DART to DFW campaign. The goal of the campaign was to raise public awareness that the DART Rail Orange Line now goes directly into Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
All categories in the Spotlight and Hit-the-Spot competition are separated by transit rides provided per year. DART competed in Category V, more than 20 million passenger trips annually, then won the over-all competition.
Other Spotlight award winners included:
In the 1 million to 8 million category, first place went to Rio Metro, Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the “Why I Ride” Multimedia Campaign to educate men and women between the ages of 25-49 years old, that commute to work along the Rio Grande corridor, about how they can gain time and reduce stress when they ride the train instead of drive.
In the more than 8 million, but fewer than 20 million category, first place went to SunTran, Tucson, Arizona, for their U-Pass Promotion: Startup for Sun Link Street Car, Tucson. Using a multi-media approach Sun Tran’s goal was Outreach to University of Arizona population to promote Sun Link streetcar ridership and U-Pass sales
Four additional categories, called Hit the Spot awards, give transit systems many opportunities to show off marketing and education efforts in single element projects.
Hit the Spot - Print Media
In the 1 million or fewer category first place honors went to Midland Odessa Urban Transit District, Odessa,Texas, for the Sun Metro Express newsletter.
In the more than 1 million, but fewer than 8 million category first place went to Rio Metro for Rail Safety Activity Book.
In the more than 8 million, but fewer than 20 million category first place went to ABQ Ride, Albuquerque, New Mexico for Art in Transit: “We are the ID.”
In the more than 20 million category first place went to Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Metro) for Art in Transit Book
Hit the Spot - Electronic Media
In the 1 million or fewer category the first place honors went to Longview Transit, Longview, Texas, for Options Travel Training PSA.
In the more than 1 million, but fewer than 8 million category first place went to Rio Metro for Tourism by Rail Video.
In the more than 8 million, but fewer than 20 million category first place went to Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) for Operation Life Saver Ad Series.
In the more than 20 million category first place went to Via Metropolitan Transit for Text the Safe Way TV Spot.
Hit the Spot - Social Media
In the more than 1 million, but fewer than 8 million category the first place honors went to Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) for Facebook Page Revamp.
In the more than 8 million, but fewer than 20 million category first place went to Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) for TEX Rail Tuesdays on Social Media.
Hit the Spot - Events
In the more than 1 million, but fewer than 8 million category the first place honors went to Rio Metro for Santa’s Village event to education people on how to use the New Mexico Rail Runner Express.
In the more than 8 million, but fewer than 20 million category first place went to Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) for Host Forum Video & Panel at APTA Conference welcoming attendees to Fort Worth.
In the more than 20 million category first place went to Valley Metro for Valley Bike Month to increase the use of their free commute-matching system.
