The Regional Transportation District (RTD) has been recognized among its transit industry colleagues at the APTA Annual Meeting and Expo in Houston for its innovation and the agency’s Union Station Grand Opening event.
RTD took top honors in two categories at APTA’s annual awards ceremony: the 2014 Innovation Award and the AdWheel Grand Prize for Special Events.
The Innovation Award is given to an APTA public transportation system that has demonstrated innovative concepts not previously applied in the public transportation industry. RTD was honored for the agency’s groundbreaking Strategic Leadership Development Program as well as the Small/Disadvantaged Business (DBE/SBE) program.
“Denver is a city of opportunity, a place where ingenuity and innovation thrive,” said Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock. “By providing leadership development to employees at all levels, RTD is ensuring that our transportation workforce will compete and succeed in the 21st century economy, helping us create a city that is healthy, livable and connected.”
The RTD Strategic Leadership Development Program employs an integrated, highly structured five-step, custom-designed curriculum that identifies and develops qualified employees for senior management positions within RTD and transit.
The program includes:
- An Internship apprenticeship program for high school, college, and post-graduate students offering entry-level work experience across the agency.
- The Workforce Initiative Now (WIN) program, a collaborative partnership to create career opportunities on transportation infrastructure, design and construction-related projects for unemployment and underemployed residents impacted by regional infrastructure projects.
- RTD’s Leadership Academy, a year-long, structured program that fosters enhanced development of competencies and behaviors of future transit leaders.
- The Multi-Agency Exchange program where participants share ideas and best practices with peers at other public transit agencies.
“We have so many bright and talented young transit professionals who want to move into higher positions” said Chuck Sisk, RTD Board Chair. “Our Strategic Leadership Development Program gives these individuals the tools and mentoring that they need in order to achieve their goals.”
Through its DBE/SBE programs, RTD’s Small Business Office ensures non-discrimination in USDOT-funded contracts and promotes utilization of socially and economically disadvantaged businesses in a race-neutral framework by increasing capacities to successfully compete with other same-size firms for prime and subcontracting opportunities. Success is measured through an innovative programmatic approach developed by RTD that includes ongoing communication, mentorship programs and an innovative SBE certification program designed to help level the playing field for small businesses to compete for contracting opportunities.
In addition to the Innovation Award, RTD won the Grand Prize in the Special Event category for the APTA AdWheel awards for RTD’s Union Station Grand Opening. These awards recognize transportation systems in North America and APTA business members for excellence in advertising, communications, marketing and promotion.
“To be honored as the best of the best is really a privilege, and while we know we have a first-class communications team, it is very special to be recognized by our industry peers,” said Scott Reed, RTD assistant general manager of communications.
Over 500 entries competed this year in the four categories of print, electronic, campaign and special event. First place honors were awarded in various subcategories for each of the four groups, based on system size. Grand Award winners were chosen from those first place winners in each group.
APTA announced last month that RTD won eight AdWheel First Place awards in the following categories:
- Advertisement, Advocacy/Awareness: I am FasTracks
- Billboards/Outdoor Advertising: CERT—Attack of the Superbrains
- Brochure: Union Station Brochure
- Schedule Notice/Timetable: Free MetroRide Schedule
- Transit Card: CERT, Prepare for the Unexpected Card
- Public Relations/Awareness Special Event: Goodbye Market, Hello, Union
- Promotional Special Event: Union Station Grand Opening
- Facebook: RTD Facebook Page
