APTA announces Rail Rodeo winners, recognizes Montreal agency's sustainability efforts

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) held its 22nd annual International Rail Rodeo June 12-15 in conjunction with the 2014 APTA Rail Conference in Montreal.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) won the Rail Transit Team Achievement Award, which is given to the system with the highest combined rail operator and maintainer team score. Team members were Roberta Randolph, Michael Holt, Mihireteab Kuratie, Jacob Stout and Roland Lamar.

In the Operators' Competition, first place went to WMATA's Randolph and Holt. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's David Resendez and Jesus Valdez took second, while Bi-State Development Agency's Christina Robinson and Robert Yawn finished in third place. The Operators' Competition measures professional skills such as train operation, knowledge of safety regulations and train equipment, and track rules and procedures.

The Maintainers' Competition — which judges participants' ability to troubleshoot maintenance problems — was won by Bay Area Rapid Transit's Gary Crandall, Edward Christian and Dan Parris. Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's Rob Brooks, Gary Geyer and Cameron Massaro achieved second place, and Regional Transportation District of Denver's Randall Lovegrove and George Sweeney took third.

Meanwhile, APTA also awarded Gold-level recognition to the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) for its sustainability efforts. The agency's sustainability commitment has resulted in decreasing air emissions by 43 percent per produced seat mile between 2006 and 2012. The agency also cut electricity use by 17 percent and reduced fuel usage 7 percent per produced seat mile during the same time period.

STM's sustainability policies include an initiative to pursue Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification for all new buildings, and a plan to purchase only electric vehicles by 2025.

"The STM has made sustainable development a priority through its strategic plan and this has led to impressive improvements in resource use and energy efficiency," said APTA President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Melaniphy in a prepared statement.

Launched in 2009, the APTA Sustainability Commitment program encourages transit agencies and businesses to voluntarily commit to implementing processes and actions that foster continuous improvements in environmental, social and economic pursuits.