National RTAP Photo Contest

2025 Photo Contest: Wrap It Up

Our National RTAP 2025 Photo Contest – Wrap It Up – is all about how you beautify your bus, including visually appealing bus wraps, graphics, decorations, holiday embellishments, and artistic creations. The photos embrace the theme - "No more boring buses!"


The photos were judged by a team on the following criteria:

  • Photo quality
  • Artistic design
  • Originality
  • Creative depiction of this year’s theme: Wrap It Up


Winners receive cash awards and plaques, and all entries also receive certificates. All entries will be showcased on our social media platforms and displayed at one or more upcoming conferences.


Congratulations to this year's winners and to everyone who entered!


First Place - Palmetto Breeze - LRTA

Photographer: Ian Acuna-Carranza

"See You Soon" and "Wrapped in Loggerheads"

Palmetto Breeze LRTA Bus by Water with Clouds
Palmetto Breeze LRTA Bus with Trees


Second Place - Eastern Sierra Transit (ESTA)

Photographer: Salma Rodriguez

"Hooked on Transit"


Third Place - Monroe County Transit Authority - Pocono Pony

Photographer: Helen Yanulus, Grants and Communications Manager

"Peace, Love and Jasmine"

Monroe County Transit Authority Pink Bus


Honorable Mention - Brazos Transit District (BTD)

Photographer: Wendy Weedon, Chief Executive Officer

"The Who-Ville Trolley"

Brazos Transit District Bus with Santa Hat and Grinch Mascot


Honorable Mention - The Link Public Transit - Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD)

Photographer: Lisa Malcolm, Bus Driver for The Link Public Transit/MCEDD

"Rollin' on the River"

2024 Photo Contest: The Art of Transit

Our National RTAP 2024 Photo Contest – The Art of Transit – celebrates the creative side of transit. We asked transit agency staff and riders to draw, paint, sculpt, quilt, weave, make a collage, or create an artistic digital image that depicts rural or tribal transit and includes an original artistic image of a bus, bus stop, driver, and/or riders. This was still a photo contest; the final submissions were photos of the artwork - our winners are shown below.


Awards were paid to the artist: First Prize: $400, Second Prize: $200, Third Prize: $100. Winners also received plaques, and all entries also received certificates. Entries will be showcased on our social media and displayed at one or more upcoming conferences.  Congratulations to the winners and all the talented artists who entered the contest!


Judging Criteria

  • Photo quality
  • Artistic design
  • Originality
  • Creative depiction of this year’s theme: The Art of Transit


First Place

Bus Stop with Tribal Riders and National RTAP sign

Artwork Title: Connecting Community


Artist: Kevin Tafoya, Assistant Manager


Transit Agency: Cherokee Transit, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Cherokee, North Carolina


Media: Digital Media

Second Place

BATA Bus 40 sign

Artwork Title: BATA Bus 40


Artist: Kristine Madsen, Mobility Manager


Transit Agency: Brookings Area Transit Authority (BATA), Brookings, South Dakota


Media: Acrylic Painting on Canvas

Third Place

Girl waving to Brazos Transit District bus

Artwork Title: I Love Brazos Transit District


Artist: Sonya Tijerina, Human Resources


Transit Agency: Brazos Transit District (BTD), Bryan, TX


Media: Painting

Honorable Mention

Steamboat Springs Transit bus

Artwork Title: Bus 66


Artist: John Lobser, Bus Driver


Transit Agency: Steamboat Springs Transit, Steamboat Springs, Colorado


Media: Painting

Honorable Mention

UCRHA bus with ice cream sign

Artwork Title: Sweet Rides and Cookeville Pride


Artist: Jacklyn Medley, Mobility Manager


Transit Agency: Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency (UCHRA), Cookville, Tennessee


Media: Procreate Digital Illustration