MONROE Monroe County residents can now get to destinations on an award winning vehicle.
Lake Erie Transit has received honors from a local advertising organization for the vinyl-wrapped bus that the agency put on the road in December.
Spirit of Monroe was given a Gold Addy at the recent Advertising Club of Toledo s annual awards program at Owens Community College in Perrysburg Township.
The design on the vinyl graphic was created by Sheroian Associates Inc. of Lambertville.
The marketing and public relations firm was paid $10,000 to $13,000 to design, develop, and print the image used on the bus, which is used on regular transit authority routes.
Mark Jagodzinski, LET general manager, said his agency was competing against designs submitted by larger transit services.
The Spirit of Monroe bus has created a lot of community awareness from day one since it rolled out of the LET bus garage. That s exactly what we wanted it to do. It has had that impact said Mr. Jagodzinski. We are extremely proud.
The bus graphic features local landmarks such as the Gen. George Armstrong Custer statue in St. Mary s Park, Monroe County Courthouse, Frenchtown Square mall, the fountain at Loranger Square, and sailboats on Lake Erie.
It is the first LET bus to be wrapped. However, Mr. Jagodzinski said one of three new hybrid electric-diesel buses scheduled to arrive in early April will be wrapped with the design.
The Advertising Club of Toledo presents the awards annually in a wide variety of categories. Entries are independently judged by a panel of three professional, out-of market experts in marketing, advertising and communications.
Nearly 350 entries were received from 45 companies in this year s competition. Awards capturing top honors progress to judging at the district level in Louisville.
Lake Erie Transit, which is the county s only public transit authority, operates fixed routes and Dial-A-Ride operations in the city of Monroe, and in Bedford, Frenchtown, and Monroe townships.
The transit agency operates eight fixed routes in 40-minute schedules.
First Published March 17, 2009, 7:35 p.m.
