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A number of organizations and individuals have been recognized in recent weeks for their efforts to improve rail transportation.

• The National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) recently recognized Maine’s U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins for their support of passenger rail, and Amtrak Industrial Design Manager Blair Slaughter for his efforts to improve passenger-rail safety. Snowe and Collins were honored for supporting passenger rail in general as well as for backing Amtrak’s Downeaster service, which runs between Boston, New Hampshire and Portland, Maine. Slaughter, who received the Dr. Gary Burch Memorial Safety Award, was recognized for developing the Generation 2 Transfer Bridge, which was designed to transfer riders safely from a disabled train and rescue train.

• For the second consecutive year, the Greater Cleveland Partnership’s Commission on Economic Inclusion has recognized the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority as “Best In Class” for senior management diversity at a nonprofit organization. The agency also was a finalist in the area of overall workforce diversity.

• The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA), Amtrak and Caltrans recently presented a Gold “State Advocate of Rail” award to James Spering, a longtime CCJPA board member. Spering was honored “not only for his tenacity and foresight to establish intercity passenger rail in Northern California, but for his years of experience and direction, which have led to tremendous improvements to the Capitol Corridor,” CCJPA Chairman Bob Franklin said in a prepared statement.

• Hampton Roads Transit’s “Light-Rail Safety Starts With You” campaign has received the “Pinnacle Award” from the Norfolk, Va.-area chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. Launched in August 2010, the campaign features television and radio commercials, brochures and videos aimed at teaching children, teens and adults how to interact safely with The Tide light-rail service.