Boston, MA - The Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) and SmartCommute@RTP have received the first place award for the 2005 SmartCommute Challenge campaign from the International Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT).

The award recognizes the collaborative efforts of TTA and SmartCommute@RTP in taking a successful concept from its original application in Research Triangle Park to a region-wide campaign that convinced over 12,000 people to try new ways to get to work.

TTA also won runner-up place award for the "Redefine the way you travel" campaign aimed at university students in the Triangle region. The awards were presented in Boston earlier today at the annual conference of ACT.

“We know that last year’s SmartCommute Challenge campaign was innovative and, more importantly, successful at introducing thousands of people to new ways of commuting.

We’re looking forward to even greater success with this year’s SmartCommute Challenge underway right now,” says John Tallmadge, director of Commuter Resources at TTA. “It’s also a real honor to be recognized by our peers from around the country.”

National and international experts and transportation leaders are gathered in Boston this week at the ACT conference to discuss emergency preparedness, gas prices, commuter choices, and community and transportation development. Leading edge individuals, organizations, and programs - like the SmartCommute Challenge -- were recognized for their unique contributions in addressing transportation, energy or

community issues.

Award winning programs for the 2006 ACT International Conference are drawn from all over the country, from universities, to large employers, and transit agencies. Marketing efforts, leadership and outstanding service awards were presented.

The TTA, like many other commuter assistance organizations across the country, has seen dramatic increases in demand for ways to save money on gas and have an easier commute by carpooling, taking public transit, vanpooling, biking and walking to work.

“Options, such as carpooling with friends, vanpooling with work colleagues and teleworking at least once a week, provide significant cost savings and relief to the pain of rising gas prices, as well as helping the country reduce energy dependence. Our award winners demonstrate exemplary programs that are making a difference for employers, for universities, and for their surrounding communities,” said Kevin Shannon, ACT Executive Director.

ACT is one of the country’s leading membership associations comprised of more than 800 employers, non-profits, public agencies and others who offer alternative commute and transportation programs and services to conserve energy, improve congestion, and reduce pollution. Conference information may be found on the website at: www.actweb.org.

About the SmartCommute Challenge Organizers
The organizers of the 2006 SmartCommute Challenge are SmartCommute@rtp, Triangle Transit Authority (TTA), and Triangle Tomorrow.

About SmartCommute@rtp: SmartCommute@rtp is the transportation management association (TMA) of the Research Triangle Park. Its purpose is to coordinate the transportation demand management (TDM) efforts of RTP employers and address common transportation concerns, reduce traffic congestion, and improve air quality. SmartCommute currently has 24 member employers. SmartCommute is staffed by the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina, owner and developer of the Research Triangle Park.

About TTA - Triangle Transit Authority: TTA is a regional public transportation provider, offering a wide variety of transit and vanpool services to North Carolina's greater Triangle Region and outlying counties. Bus service is available to Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Garner, RDU International Airport, Research Triangle Park (RTP) and Raleigh. The Triangle Transit Authority also provides commuter resources and hosts GoTriangle.org, the on-line resource for the public transportation information in the Triangle.

About Triangle Tomorrow: Triangle Tomorrow, a program of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP), works closely with business and community leaders to improve the quality of life and economic competitiveness of the 13-county Research Triangle Region.