At this year’s virtual Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation Conference (RIBTC) on October 25-27, 2021, we recognized the commitment of ALL of the transit workers who provided essential transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To continue paying tribute to our Frontline Heroes, we are still soliciting photos, videos, stories, and messages. Using the form below, please submit your Frontline Hero photos, videos, and/or stories and a 250-500 word description to the RIBTC Planning Committee. We appreciate your help!

Examples of stories to tell for this tribute: 

• Overcoming obstacles to show up to work and provide transit during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Complying with COVID-related requirements that were particularly challenging
• Any activity that goes above and beyond regular service 

*Text from the nominations may be used by the AP055 Rural and Intercity Bus Transportation Conference Committee in marketing and promotional materials, on the website, and shared with peers across the country, as well as the Federal Transit Administration and RLS and Associates. 

The Rural Mobility Champion Award is presented to ALL rural frontline transit heroes that unselfishly provided and continue to provide essential transportation services during the COVID-19 Pandemic. When everything else stopped, our rural transit frontline heroes made sure that essential workers got to their jobs, vulnerable populations got to much needed medical appointments and treatments, and passengers got to testing and vaccination sites.

Our frontline heroes showed up to work every day regardless of the risk to their own well-being and safety, concerns about the exposure they might be bringing home to their loved ones, the emotional toll associated with the loss of too many passengers to the virus, and the unprecedented levels of stress associated with the chaos, isolation and uncertainty of the times. While others stayed at home or dealt with issues from afar, our rural transit workers came to work every day to serve the public.

This award recognizes them for the heroes that they are. Congratulations and thank you!

-Robbie Sarles, RLS & Associates, Frontline Heroes Nominator

Help us to recognize your heroes by participating in one or more of the following celebration activities:

• Share photos, videos, and/or stories about your Frontline Heroes to be included in the tribute
• Submit the Frontline Hero Recognition Form below as soon as possible
• Recognition buttons
• Submit the form below to order Frontline Heroes Buttons (free of charge) for each of your heroes
• Distribute one button to each hero that they can proudly wear
• Announce to your staff, board, and local media outlets
• Place announcement on vehicles
• Award certificate for your organization
• Download the certificate and enter your organization's name
• Frame the certificate and proudly display
• Announce to your staff, board, and local media outlets
• Place announcement on vehicles
• Individual heroes certificates for each of your frontline heroes
• Download the certificate and create one for each of your frontline heroes
• Distribute to each of your heroes
• Announce to your staff, board, and local media outlets
• Place announcement on vehicles
• Share pictures of your frontline heroes being recognized with their certificates or buttons
• Upload photos to this folder or email them to us, and be sure to include the name of your agency and the names of the heroes
• Post the photos on your website or social media as appropriate.

For questions about Frontline Heroes Buttons, please contact Robbie Sarles at rls@rlsandassoc.com.