Posted on October, 27 2010

DART Announces Winners of ‘Tell Your Transit Story’ Contest

The winners of last month’s “Tell Your Transit Story” contest were announced Tuesday evening at the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority’s Commission meeting.

Grand Prize – Jennifer Deutmeyer, a marketing and communications consultant for the Principal Financial Group, for her video showing how she travels the world with help from the money she saves by riding public transit.

First Place, Energy Independence category – Alexander Grgurich, a former Norwalk City Council member and the director of Foundry Coworking, for his essay about his growing commitment to public transit as he runs his downtown Des Moines business without a car, relying instead on his bike and DART.

First Place, Environment category – Steven Suvalsky of Johnston, a pathologist’s assistant at Iowa Methodist, for his essay articulating the many benefits of public transit, including how he is now living a “green life.”

First Place, Quality of Life category – Myrtle Storm, a resident at The Rose assisted living facility, for her essay titled “Myrtle’s Bucket List” on how she used paratransit service to go to the Iowa State Fair on her own and fulfill her lifelong dream of riding the Double Ferris Wheel.

First Place, Economy category – Jessica Triggs, who recently started commuting nearly 200 miles daily between her home in Mount Ayr and a new job in Des Moines, for her essay on how she held on to her new job – and her sanity – by joining a RideShare vanpool instead of driving herself each day.
 

DART received 60 entries, which were scored by a panel of Transit Riders Advisory Committee members and then judged by staff. Names were redacted from entries for blind judging. Each of the first‐place winners received an iPod Nano and the grand‐prize winner received an iPod Touch. DART will use the stories gathered as part of the contest for future marketing materials.

The winning essays can be read online at DART’s blog, thebusblog.ridedart.com. The grand‐prize video is not being released at this time, pending permission from a musician on the use of a song.

The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority is the public transportation provider that serves Polk County.  DART operates a family of transportation services that makes getting around the Greater Des Moines area easier and more convenient. For more information about DART services, schedules, route changes, or directions to the nearest DART stop, visit our website at www.ridedart.com or call 515.283.8100.

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