Award Categories

The ETC Champion Award is presented to a person who is responsible for transportation programs for an organization that best demonstrates a commitment to promoting and advancing commuter transportation options.

The Excellence in Advocacy Award acknowledges an ACT member whose advocacy efforts on behalf of TDM, whether at the local, state, and/or federal level have been exceptional. The award celebrates effort, innovation, efficiency, and effectiveness and includes both individual advocacy efforts along with the organization and encouragement of others’ participation in advocacy.

The Excellence in Research Award acknowledges an ACT member or organization for recent research in transportation demand management, one of its sub disciplines, or in a related field when the research demonstrates applicability to TDM goals. Collaborative efforts may be recognized so long as one member of the team is an ACT member.

The Outstanding Building/Development Award recognizes a facility that provides commuter friendly infrastructure, programs and services, and demonstrates clear metrics to measure reduction of single occupant vehicle trips during peak hours of traffic congestion.

The TDM Plan of the Year Award recognizes an organization or entity that has developed a new TDM plan for a worksite, community, region, campus or development within the last two years. This award honors a plan that demonstrates a strategic, well-executed approach to promoting alternative transportation options such as public transit, biking, walking, carpooling, and telecommuting. Winning plans incorporate data-driven decision-making, strong stakeholder engagement, and a focus on future measurable results that showcase a meaningful impact on traffic congestion, air quality, and overall travel behavior.

This award category recognizes a single TDM strategy that has had a significant impact in changing travel behavior through planning, programs, policies, incentives, pricing, data, and/or technology. This award highlights an effective initiative that influences travel modes, routes, departure times, number of trips, or location and design of work spaces or public attractions.

Successful submissions will showcase TDM strategies that address transportation challenges. Examples might include reducing congestion in a construction corridor through incentives, data, and education; boosting bike commuting with subsidies, discounts, and tune-up clinics; a new commuter concierge service offering trip plans, trial passes, and incentives; or enhancing transit access through a developer ordinance integrating service expansion, multimodal infrastructure, and affordable housing. Winning entries will demonstrate measurable transportation improvements.

The nominated TDM strategy should have clear goals and demonstrate progress towards achieving those goals. 

The Best Overall Marketing Campaign recognizes a campaign that was designed to educate and inform an identified audience about their commuting options, the impacts of transportation on the environment, transportation planning, and other related topics and concerns. The winning campaign will have demonstrated a high level of creativity and originality, and can show measurable results including increased audience engagement, increased brand awareness, mode shift, or significant behavior change.

The Outstanding Innovative Partnership Award recognizes creative and impactful collaborations between organizations, whether public, private, or non-traditional partners, that address transportation challenges or deliver new TDM solutions. This award highlights partnerships that bring together diverse sectors, such as municipalities, transit agencies, non-profits, employers, or community organizations, to implement TDM initiatives. The successful program or project should demonstrate how collaboration between these partners achieved meaningful outcomes for the organizations involved and the communities they serve, with a focus on solving transportation issues.

The TDM Industry Impact Award recognizes a local, regional or statewide TDM program, organization, or entity that has demonstrated outstanding leadership and impact in advancing TDM goals. This award honors a comprehensive, high-impact TDM effort that effectively improves mobility, reduces congestion, and promotes travel options. Eligible applicants may include, but are not limited to:

• Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) or Organizations (TMOs)
• TDM programs operated by a transit agency, metropolitan planning organization (MPO), or local government 
• Statewide TDM programs or initiatives that provide support, guidance, or coordination across multiple regions
• Nonprofit or private-sector organizations that offer dedicated TDM services and have a demonstrated impact on travel behavior

Community Builder Award recognizes individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to strengthening community connections within a region or work site. This award honors those who cultivate collaboration and enhance accessibility through community based TDM strategies.