The Fairfax County Transportation Advisory Commission (TAC) unanimously voted at its January 21, 2025, meeting to give the 2024 Transportation Achievement Award to the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) Marketing Team for their support of Fairfax Connector initiatives.
The team played a critical role in ensuring that transit services are accessible to the communities that are most dependent on them. They successfully communicated service changes to affected populations and managed the Free Student Bus Pass Program, using multilingual materials to ensure accessibility for students and their families. Their efforts helped expand transit usage among younger riders, fostering long-term engagement with public transportation.
They also spearheaded the promotion of the Transit Ridership Incentive Program (TRIP), which supports commuters at or below the federal poverty line. Through collaborations with local businesses, employers, community service organizations, schools and advocacy groups, they ensured that transit benefits reached those who needed them most.
The team’s innovative outreach efforts, such as the Spooky Bus and Winterfest bus wraps, combined festive themes with public transit awareness. These campaigns not only increased community engagement, but also included a charitable component, partnering with the nonprofit Cornerstones to support families in need. These efforts strengthened public trust in transit services and reinforced the role of transportation in community well-being.
“The Marketing Team’s work in community engagement, strategic outreach and creative initiatives on behalf of Fairfax Connector increased ridership, improved public awareness and created stronger community ties,” said TAC Chair Mike Champness. “The competition for the award this year was fierce, with many well qualified candidates. The TAC is very pleased to recognize the Marketing Team for their outstanding contributions.”
Congratulations to Kala Berry, head of Fairfax Connector marketing; and Communication Specialists Nicole Daly, Saul Cieza and Lynn Krolowitz for receiving the 2024 TAC Award!
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