The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) annual awards returned at the 2023 Midwest Transit Conference. FTA recognized both rural and urban providers for ridership increases and total rides provides at the Breakfast of Transit Champions on Friday, Sept. 8 as a part of the annual conference. Historically, the FTA recognizes providers with the annual awards, however, they have suspended the awards event since the pandemic in 2020.
Missouri transit providers recognized this year included:
- The Bus (City Utilities Transit Services) for highest urban public transportation ridership among transit systems with a population of 200,000 to 1 million in Missouri in 2021.
- City of Columbia Public Transit (GoCOMO) for highest urban public transportation ridership increase among transit systems in Missouri from 2020 to 2021.
- City of Independence (Inde Bus) for highest urban public transportation ridership among transit systems with population less than 200,000 in Missouri 2021.
- Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) for providing over 9 million rides in Region 7 in 2021.
- Bi-State Development Agency (Metro Transit) for providing over 17 million rides in Region 7 in 2021.
- City of El Dorado Springs Transit for highest rural public transportation ridership increase among transit systems in Missouri from 2020 to 2021.
- OATS, In. for highest rural public transportation ridership among transit system in Missouri in 2021.
In addition, MPTA staff was recognized for its efforts by the FTA to deliver transit education and advocacy in the Midwest.