Award Categories

The Commuting Options Awards recognizes an exemplary program, policy, or service that advances one of the following commuting options: Active Commuting (including biking, walking, running, shared mobility devices such as e-scooters or dockless bikes); Public Transit (including bus and rail); Ridesharing (including carpooling, vanpooling, and TNCs); Telework; Best Overall Benefit Program (which combines multiple incentives and benefits).

The program, policy, or service should have clear goals and demonstrate progress towards achieving those goals. One award will be presented for each of the commute option categories listed.

1. Please describe the program, policy, or service.
2. What were the goals and objectives of the program, policy, or service?
3. Explain how the program, policy, or service engaged the intended audience.
4. What was the budget of the program, policy, or service?
5. What were the outcomes of the program, policy, or service?
6. How can this program, policy, or service be transferred to other TDM programs in other locations?
7. Did this program, policy or service help address or further equity in the location of service? If so, please explain how and the outcome.

The ETC Champion Award is presented to an ETC that best demonstrates a commitment to promoting and advancing commuter transportation options at their work site.

1. Please provide a brief description of the nominee’s employer organization and work site.
2. What qualifies the nominee to receive this award?
3. What have been the outcomes of the nominee’s efforts on advancing transportation options and positively supporting commuters at their work site?
4. Has the nominee helped to address equity and diversity at their work site? If so, please explain.
5. Please provide any additional information you think will add to the nominee’s nomination.

Categories:

• Best Print Marketing
• Best Social Media Marketing
• Best Website Launch or Revision
• Best Overall Marketing Campaign

These categories recognize strategies or campaigns that were 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 strategies and campaigns 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.

1. Please describe the promotion or marketing campaign.
2. What were the goals and objectives of the promotion or marketing campaign?
3. What was the budget of the promotion or marketing campaign?
4. How did this promotion or marketing campaign engage, educate or inform the public, employees, tenants, and/or students about their commuting options or the broader ideas of transportation planning, impacts of transportation on the environment, or other related concerns?
5. What were the outcomes of the promotion or marketing campaign?
6. How can this promotion or marketing campaign be transferred or implemented by other organizations or locations?
7. Did the program address commuters specifically to encourage representation and participation of diverse groups of people including genders, races and ethnicities, abilities and disabilities, religions, cultures, ages, and sexual orientations?

The Outstanding Building/Development Award recognizes a multi-tenant (residential & commercial) facility that provide commuter friendly infrastructure, programs and services, and demonstrate clear metrics to measure reduction of single occupant vehicle trips during peak hours of traffic congestion.

1. Provide a brief description of the nominee’s building/development.
2. What transportation related facilities and improvements does the building/development have to qualify to receive this award?
3. What parking management strategies does the site maintain to qualify to receive this award?
4. What transportation promotions, services, and/or policies does the site maintain?
5. Explain how the facility engages commuters and educates users to its infrastructure, programs, and services.
6. Did the program address commuters specifically to encourage representation and participation of diverse groups of people including genders, races and ethnicities, abilities and disabilities, religions, cultures, ages, and sexual orientations?

What are the outcomes of the nominee’s efforts on advancing transportation options and positively supporting commuters at their development site for a lasting impact? Please include quantifiable outcomes, such as commuter service results.

The outstanding TMA Award is presented to the TMA that is judged to have best used its public/private partnerships to achieve local or regional transportation goals.

1. What qualifies the nominated TMA to receive this award? What are/were the outstanding contributions made to the field of TDM through excellence and/or effective leadership skills?
2. Describe the driving goals & objectives of the TMA in relation to the location and region it serves.
3. What contributions has the TMA made to its members, region and the TDM industry?
4. Describe the specific programs, projects & leadership demonstrated by the organization. Explain the use of specific public and/or private partnerships.
5. Describe the outcomes & benefits achieved by the TMA through its programs, services, and projects
6. Did the program address commuters specifically to encourage representation and participation of diverse groups of people including genders, races and ethnicities, abilities and disabilities, religions, cultures, ages, and sexual orientations?

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.

1. Please provide a brief description of the research for which the nominee is being nominated.
2. Please describe the nominee’s advocacy efforts and any direct outcomes that resulted from these efforts.
3. How will/has these advocacy efforts benefit(ed) or advance(d) the field of TDM and/or one of its sub disciplines?
4. Did this advocacy effort help further equity of TDM? If so, please explain.

Please provide any additional information you think will add to the nominee’s nomination.

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.

1. How was the research funded?
2. Please provide the monetary amount your research was given.
3. Please provide a brief description of the research for which the nominee is being nominated.
4. How will/has this research benefit(ed) or advance(d) the field of TDM and/or one of its sub disciplines?
5. Did this research effort help further equity of TDM? If so, please explain.

Please provide any additional information you think will add to the nominee’s nomination.

The Excellence in Planning Award recognizes public agencies at the local, regional or state level who have taken notable steps to incorporate TDM into their transportation and land use planning process.

1. Please provide a brief description of the manner in which TDM is included in the nominee’s planning process as a whole.
2. Please describe in more detail the specific TDM-related planning documents or policies that have been produced or developed by the nominee.
3. Describe the nominee’s overarching goals or objectives that influenced the incorporation of TDM into the planning process.

What impacts or outcomes have been seen as a result of the nominee’s efforts?

The Public-Private Partnership Award recognizes an instance in which one or more public sector organizations (e.g., municipality, transit agency) collaborated with one or more private sector organizations (e.g., employer) on a successful TDM initiative that benefited the participating organizations as well as the communities they serve or are a part of.

1. Please specify the organizations involved in partnership and the sector each one falls under.
2. Please provide a history and summary of the program or project. What was the impetus for the program or project? What were the goals and objectives of the program or project?
3. What were or have been the outcomes from the program or project?
4. How has the broader community benefited from the outcomes of the program or project? If the program or project advanced diversity, equity, and inclusion within the community, please explain how. 

Please provide any additional information you think will add to the nominee’s nomination.