SANTA BARBARA, CA (20 September, 2008)

Maryland Transit Administration won “First Place” in the annual “AdWheel Awards” held by The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) for their new passenger information product. The product is a folded pocket size system map and guide. The portable map and guide condenses the information found in the full size system map and guide maintaining its easy to read and easy to understand qualities while allowing the passenger to carry it in a purse or jacket pocket. The new passenger information products were designed by Santa Barbara based CHK America, the leading provider of passenger information products.

Each year, APTA members submit their very best advertising, marketing, promotional, and communications materials in the media categories of print, electronic, campaigns and special events to the AdWheel Awards competition. The best of the best are selected by a panel of independent judges and winners this year were announced at APTA’s Annual Meeting in Dallas in September.

APTA’s Awards Program recognizes excellence in the public transportation industry. In addition to the well-known Hall of Fame award, the program recognizes – in the individual category – an outstanding transit manager, transit board member, business member, an elected or appointed official, and a decision maker or private citizen advancing transit at the state and local level.

The APTA Awards Committee selects winning transit agencies in four basic categories divided by annual ridership: agencies providing fewer than 1 million passenger trips, agencies providing more than 1 million trips, agencies providing more than 4 million trips, and agencies providing 30 million or more trips.

“It was a pleasure working with the MTA to develop this convenient product for their passengers and we are delighted that they won the recognition of APTA with a first place Ad Wheel Award,” comments Rick Wood, President & CEO, CHK America. “The design is a great combination of service information and mapping, providing MTA’s riders with a detailed, easily understandable guide to each of its services.”