Putting the “WOW” in Public Transportation

The “Words on Wheels” program reached its 12-year milestone of featuring the poetry of Baltimore city school students on our Local Bus and Light Rail lines, complemented by the artwork of students at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). Aside from helping over 350,000 passengers reach their destinations safely and conveniently every day, this is a program that makes us beam with pride. Not for our own sake, you understand. Mostly because of the pride and joy we see reflected in the faces of the students who worked so hard.

This year, Words on Wheels features some of its strongest entries ever – the poems of fifteen students selected from 175 compositions submitted by scholars at elementary, middle and high schools in Baltimore City. And the work created by the MICA students to accompany the poems rocks too.

We like to think of MTA’s commitment to Words on Wheels as a signpost of our commitment to students and literacy in general, as well as a highly visible way for our best and brightest young people to express themselves. We think it’s a great way to connect with our customers too. The winning poems are always thought-provoking, and we believe they make for a richer transportation experience.

We invite you to take a look at some of the winning work, featured on MICA’s website, and enjoy a brief video of the winners.