>> What is the Sustainable Transport Award?

Each year, ITDP and the Sustainable Transport Award Committee select a city that has implemented innovative sustainable transportation projects in the preceding year. These strategies improve mobility for all residents, reduce transportation greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, and improve safety and access for cyclists and pedestrians. The winning city and honorable mentions are honored in a virtual ceremony hosted in February of the winning year. 

>> How is the STA evaluated?

Cities are awarded based on a sustainable transportation intervention that addresses climate change, resiliency, and equity concerns. 

  1. The transportation intervention must have been completed 18 months before the submission deadline, March 31, of the selection year.

  2. The award has two rounds of evaluation. The first is the nominee application round, which includes identifying the type of transportation intervention you are submitting for:

    • Public Transport (e.g. BRT, Metro rail)

    • Cycling and Walking (e.g. cycle share, pedestrian improvements)

    • Travel Demand Management (e.g. parking, congestion pricing)

    • Sustainable Urban Development (e.g. transit-oriented development)

    • Urban Freight (e.g. city-wide freight plan, last-mile solutions)

  3. The second round of evaluation criteria will dive into the qualitative and quantitative impacts of the sustainable transport intervention. These can include:

  • Increase in road safety

  • Change in VKT

  • Policy changes that helped achieve the intervention 

  • Funding and financing that helped achieve the intervention

  • Before and after photos of the sustainable transport intervention 

  • Impacts on air quality or reduction in GHG emissions

  • Increase in time and/or money savings as a result of the intervention

  • Increase in equitable access

  • Changes in mode share and ridership

  • Increase in personal security

 >> How can you nominate a city for the Sustainable Transport Award?

Nominations begin after the Sustainable Transport Award Ceremony and end on March 31st each year.

  • Anyone can nominate a city but a city contact is required to to move forward in the application process. 

  • We accept applications in languages other than English, and we will work internally to translate and confirm the information on a case-by-case basis.

  • To be notified when we open applications each year, we encourage you to subscribe to the Sustainable Transport Bulletin.

>> What is the Sustainable Transport Award Committee?

Committee members evaluate nominations and decide on the STA winner and the honorable mention. The committee is composed of a prestigious international cadre of experts representing the most highly regarded organizations in the sustainable transport and urban development field.

If you are interested in joining the Sustainable Transport Award Committee, please send your inquiry to Veronica.Ortiz@itdp.org.

>> Committee Members

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) envisions a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty in the region.

Clean Air Asia is an international non-governmental organization leading the regional mission for better air quality, and healthier, more livable cities. Its mission is to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in Asia and contribute to the development of a more sustainable, equitable and healthier region.

Despacio promotes the quality of life in cities and during all stages of life through applied research, with an emphasis on challenging the status quo. It seeks to improve the well-being of communities and individuals from the most individual and family aspects (food, transportation, child care) to the most collective (planning and managing humane and sustainable cities).

The mission of the Bernard van Leer Foundation is to improve opportunities for all young children, especially the millions of young children growing up in circumstances of socio, economic and environmental disadvantage around the world.

ITDP is a global organization at the forefront of innovation, using technical expertise, direct advocacy, and policy guidance to mitigate the impacts of climate change, improve air quality, and support prosperous, sustainable, and equitable cities.

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT+ CoE) is a Centre of Excellence for Bus Rapid Transit Studies implemented in Santiago, Chile, and financed by the Volvo Research and Educational Foundations (VREF). It works to develop a new framework for planning, design, financing, implementation and operation of BRT in different urban areas, giving clear guidelines to decision makers to enhance mobility and accessibility.

As a service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education work, GIZ is dedicated to shaping a future worth living around the world with partners in national governments worldwide and cooperation partners from the worlds of business, research and civil society.

The World Bank Group works in every major area of development. It provides a wide array of financial products and technical assistance, and its helps countries share and apply innovative knowledge and solutions to the challenges they face.

CAF promotes a sustainable development model through credit, non-refundable resources, and support in the technical and financial structuring of projects in the public and private sectors in Latin America.

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is a global network of more than 2500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in 125+ countries, ICLEI influences sustainability policy and drive local action for low emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development.

WRI is a global nonprofit organization that works with leaders in government, business and civil society to research, design, and carry out practical solutions that simultaneously improve people’s lives and ensure nature can thrive.