Winners of the 2012 Golden Pylon Awards: from left, carpooling team of Nora Wells and Sioux-z Jessup report traffic on several radio stations, Total Traffic L.A. powerhouse Nick Pagliochini, Metro’s reigning ‘Miss Traffic’ Sofia Mach, KABC Air Watch Kalyna Astrinos, CHP Officer Juan Galvin, and KFWB veteran Rhonda Kramer.  (Click on images to enlarge view)

16th Annual Golden Pylon Awards spotlight true-grit traffic reporters whose on-air traffic talk keeps rush-hour commuters in the know about alternatives to solo driving. Awards are prelude to Rideshare Week Oct. 1 – 5 when commuters are invited to share the ride.

KABC reporter Kalyna Astrinos with Metro’s Martin Buford and Miss Traffic Sofia Mach. Click image to view.

Southland transit agencies handed out coveted Golden Pylon Awards Wednesday to the region’s top traffic reporters. The awards honor the true-grit reporters whose on-air traffic talk keeps the region’s traffic moving by promoting rideshare options such as carpool lanes, vanpools and public transportation.The Golden Pylon Awards are sponsored by five regional transit agencies: Metro in Los AngelesCounty, Orange County Transportation Authority, Riverside County Transportation Commission, San Bernardino Associated Governments and Ventura County Transportation Commission.

2011 winner Kajon Cermak of KCRW with Sioux-z Jessup, left, and Nora Wells. Click image to view.

Nominated by their peers and the transit agencies, six traffic reporters who report on the daily traffic grind for numerous broadcast outlets were presented with gleaming Lucite trophies inscribed with a traffic cone pylon.

Kalyna Astrinos, ABC 7’s prime time traffic reporter on “Eyewitness News”afternoon “AirWatch” broadcasts

Nora Wells and Sioux-z Jessup, a carpooling team of traffic reporters share the Golden Pylons first-ever joint award.

2011 winner Sean Murphy, center, NBC-4’s prime time traffic reporter with Miss Traffic and 2012 winner Nick Pagliochini. Click image to view.

The duo ride tandem on traffic conditions on the airwaves of KCXX-FM, KATY-FM, KFYV-FM, KOCP-FM, and KGMX-FM in Los Angeles. And, on Sirius inSan Diego. Wait, there’s more: And, on KUPL-FM and KWJJ-FM inPortland. Oh, yes, they also fill-in on KROQ and KLOS.

Nick Pagliochini, powerhouse Total Traffic L.A. reporter on the air and streaming twitter feed, broadcasts live traffic reports on KSBR, KFI, KTALK, KTMS

Rhonda Kramer, part of the KFWB team since 1983, began her radio career in 1979 at KFOX-FM inRedondo Beach.

2010 winner Jeff Baugh and Rhonda Kramer. Click image to view.

When 93 KHJ changed to a country format in November, 1980, she was called upon to fly in their airplane to provide on air traffic reports. She has been reporting traffic ever since.

California Highway Patrol Officer Juan Galvin, reports traffic conditions on FOX 11 Morning News, Univision 34 morning news, Primera Edicion of Univision 34, 6 p.m., and on radio stations KWRM Radio Mexico in the mornings, KFRN 1280 Family Radio, La Poderosa 1550, La Maquina Musical, and on the Internet Real Time Traffic internet show on Myfoxla.com for Fox network.

CHP reporter Officer Juan Galvin, Miss Traffic. Click image to view.

The Golden Pylon Awards are a traditional prelude to Rideshare Week, which begins Monday, Oct. 1. Rideshare Week is a statewide campaign to encourage thousands of commuters to ‘share the ride’ to help reduce traffic and smog. Currently 72 percent of commuters in theLos Angelesregion drive alone to work.

Rideshare Week, now in its 26th year,  is an opportunity to raise awareness and a call-to-action for the region’s employees to pledge to rideshare at least one day during the statewide campaign.

Metro Communications Officer Dave Sotero briefs the traffic reporters on two major Rideshare events coming up: ‘Carmageddon II’ of the I-405 Sepulveda Pass Improvements Project and the ExpressLanes start-up on the Harbor Freeway Nov. 10. Click image to view.