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Awards and Recognition

Metro Transit is an established leader in the transit industry and has won multiple awards for top performance. Below is a list of some of the recognition Metro Transit and its employees have received from peers and partners. 

Metro Transit also hosts three annual awards ceremonies. The Commuter Choice Awards recognize individuals, groups and building owners that promote alternatives to driving alone. The Metro Transit Police Department’s Awards Ceremony recognizes outstanding police work. The Ovations Awards recognize top-performing operators.

Photo: Jerry Olson, 2014 Minnesota Operator of the Year, with Director of Bus Transportation Christy Bailly. 


2021

Top 40 Under 40, Carrie Desmond, Principal Engineer

Minnesota Operator of the Year, Harry Mandik, Train Operator

Richard P. Braun Distinguished Service Award, CTS, John Levin, Director of Strategic Initiatives

Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award, WTS Minnesota, Amina Wolf, Transportation Manager

Woman to Watch, WTS Minnesota, Ayantu Gemeda, Assistant Manager-Street Operations Bus Rapid Transit

Ray LaHood Award, WTS Minnesota, Deputy Chief of Operations-Bus Brian Funk


2019

Distinguished Career Award, MPTA, John Dillery, Scott Thompson, Steve Mahowald

Minnesota Bus Operator of the Year, MPTA, Theresa Collins

2025 Plan Leadership Award, Minneapolis Downtown Council, METRO C Line


2018

Top 40 Under 40, Joan Hollick, Interim Director-New Starts Program

Better Government Award, Metro Transit Technician Training Program

Certificate of Merit, APTA Bus Safety & Security Excellence Awards

Ray LaHood Award, WTS Minnesota, Charles Carlson


2017

Management Innovation Award, Metro Transit App, Minnesota Public Transit Association

Operator of the Year, Renee Stafford, Minnesota Public Transit Association 

Top 40 Under 40, Mass Transit, Katie Roth, Manager-Arterial Bus Rapid Transit

Gold Award for Safety, APTA

Innovative Transportation Solutions Award, WTS Minnesota, A Line

Richard W. Schaller Award, Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, Chief John Harrington

Model Program Award, Metro Transit Technician Training Program


2016

Distinguished Career Award, Minnesota Public Transit Association, Bill Wilken, Revenue Operations Supervisor

Top 40 Under 40, Mass Transit, Chang Yang, Assistant Transportation Manager

System of the Year, American Public Transportation Association

Gold Standard, Transportation Security Administration (TSA). For security planning, training and outreach.


2015

Transit Professional of the Year, Minnesota Public Transit Association, Chief John Harrington

Management Innovation Awards, Minnesota Public Transit Association,Student Pass

Gold Award, APTA AdWheel Awards, Special Events - Green Line opening day campaign

Top 40 Under 40, Mass Transit, Kristin Thompson, Assistant Director - Scheduling, Analysis and Data Collection. 

Lifetime Achievement, Minnesota Association of Government Communicators. Bob Gibbons, Director of Customer Service & Marketing (retired).

Award of Excellence, Minnesota Association of Government Communicators. Switch My Trip Campaign.

Award of Excellence, Minnesota Association of Government Communicators. State Fair Campaign.

Top Projects, Finance & Commerce. For the METRO Green Line and the Highway 610 & Noble Parkway Park & Ride.

Partner of the Year, Visit Saint Paul. For efforts to support and enhance the tourism industry in St. Paul.

Employer of the Year, WTS Minnesota. For efforts to hire and promote women at Metro Transit and the Metropolitan Council. 

Progress Minnesota, Finance & Commerce. For the METRO Green Line’s impact on the regional economy. 

Innovation in Tourism, Meet Minneapolis. For efforts to support and enhance the tourism industry in Minneapolis.

Engineering Excellence Awards, American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota. For ingenuity and sustainable design on the METRO Green Line and Highway 610 & Noble Parkway Park & Ride projects.


2014

Gold Level, American Public Transit Association (APTA) Sustainability Program. For environmental stewardship and reductions in energy and fuel consumption.

Transit Professional of the Year, Mark Fuhrmann, Deputy General Manager, Minnesota Public Transit Association (MPTA). For successfully leading the METRO Green Line construction project. Fuhrmann had more than 30 years of transit management experience at the time of the award.

Operator of the Year, Jerry Olson, Minnesota Public Transit Association, MPTA. For safety, customer service and leadership. Olson had 41 consecutive years of safe driving at the time of the award.

Top 40 Under 40, Mass Transit. Capt. Jim Franklin. For overseeing the development of the Metro Transit Police Department’s East Command in St. Paul, emergency management and preparations for the METRO Green Line opening.

Top 40 Under 40, Mass Transit. Charles Carlson, Senior Manager, BRT. For leading Metro Transit’s Bus Rapid Transit/Small Starts project office.

Awards of Excellence, Minnesota Association of Government Communicators. Metro Transit Fact Book, Rider's Almanac, Rail~Volution Conference promotional video.


2013

Operator of the Year, Tony Taylor, MPTA. For safety, customer service and leadership. Taylor had 34 years of service at the time of the award and was an effective spokesperson for Metro Transit.

Distinguished Career Award, Silas Sharp, MPTA. For significant improvements to transit in Minnesota. A Maintenance Manager, Silas had 50 years of service at the time of the award.

Gold Award, Bus Safety Excellence, APTA. For cross-departmental efforts to reduce bus collisions.

Gold Standard, Transportation Security Administration (TSA). For security planning, training and outreach.

Best in Show, Minnesota Association of Government Communicators (MAGC). For a campaign reminding customers to be safe using transit. 


2012

Transit Professional of the Year, Jan Homan, Director of Bus Maintenance, MPTA.