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The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) handed out quite a bit of hardware earlier this week at its annual meeting in Orlando, Fla.

The association presented 2009 Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Awards — which recognize demonstrated achievement in efficiency and effectiveness from 2006 to 2008 — to San Diego’s Metropolitan Transit System (more than 30 million annual passenger trips category); Olympia, Wash.’s Intercity Transit (4 million to 30 million trips); and Virginia’s Greater Lynchburg Transit Co. (1 million to 4 million trips).

In addition, APTA bestowed the 2009 Innovation Award to the Utah Transit Authority. The award recognizes public transit agencies that demonstrate innovative service concepts.

The association also handed out 2009 Outstanding Public Transportation Board Member Awards to the following six individuals, whose “contributions have greatly advanced public transportation,” according to APTA:
• John Catoe Jr., general manager of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Outstanding Public Transportation Manager Award;
• Bernard Ford, long-time public transportation industry veteran, Hall of Fame Award;
• Gregory Nickels, chairman of Sound Transit, Outstanding Public Transportation Board Member Award;
• David Stackrow, chairman of the Capital District Transportation Authority, Outstanding Public Transportation Board Member Award;
• Delon Hampton, chairman of Delon Hampton & Associates, Outstanding Public Transportation Business Member Award; and
• Tim Solso, chairman and CEO of Cummins Inc., Outstanding Business Executive of the Year Award.

Finally, APTA members honored U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood for helping the U.S. Department of Transportation exceed its goal of obligating half of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to the public transit industry by Sept. 1. More than 90 percent of the funds were obligated by the deadline. The $8.4 billion invested in public transit through ARRA funds will create or support 252,000 jobs, according to APTA.