(Columbia, SC) — The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) is proud to announce that two of its distinguished leaders have been selected for prestigious awards by the Transportation Association of South Carolina (TASC). Richland County Councilwoman and COMET Board Chair Allison Terracio has been selected as the recipient of the TASC Award of Excellence in Elected Official of the Year, while Pamela Bynoe-Reed, Director of Marketing & Community Affairs/PIO, has been selected as the recipient of the TASC Award of Excellence in Support Manager of the Year.
The awards will be presented during the Awards Luncheon at the 2025 TASC Annual Conference and Expo on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center.
Both awards honor the recipients’ outstanding contributions to the South Carolina transportation community. Paramount to earning these awards was the exceptional work that both Terracio and Bynoe-Reed performed in the community with voters during the passage of the $990M voter-approved Richland County Penny Tax Referendum, which secured transformational funding for public transportation in the region.
“I am deeply honored to receive this recognition alongside Pamela,” said Terracio. “Our work on the penny tax referendum was truly a community effort, and I’m proud that we were able to secure the resources needed to transform public transportation in our region. This award belongs to all the residents who believed in our vision for better transit services.”
Councilwoman Allison Terracio represents Richland County Council District 5, which includes the neighborhoods of Historic Waverly, Edgewood, Shandon, Rosewood, Five Points, the Vista, St. Andrews, and the campuses of the University of South Carolina, Allen University and Benedict College. She is committed to constituent service and makes a practice of listening to constituents’ interests and ideas at neighborhood association meetings, in local community gatherings, and while spending time at branches of the Richland County Library. As COMET Board Chair, she has provided strategic leadership that has advanced the organization’s mission to provide accessible, reliable public transportation services.
“I am truly humbled to be recognized alongside Councilwoman Terracio,” said Bynoe-Reed. “The success of the penny tax referendum was the result of incredible teamwork and community engagement as well as the leadership of our Executive Director/CEO. I’m grateful to work with such dedicated leaders who share our commitment to improving transportation access for all residents in the Midlands.”
Bynoe-Reed is an award-winning marketing and communications executive with 20 years of success across transportation, energy, and healthcare. Previously recognized as a 2021 SC Women in Business “Woman to Watch” and a 2025 SC Women in Business award recipient, she continues to break new ground in public transportation marketing. She led the nationally acclaimed ‘Saving Sarah’s Seat’ campaign and played a key communications leadership role in the $990M voter-approved initiative that transformed public transportation funding in the region. As a respected public speaker and Fall 2025 MBA candidate at USC’s Darla Moore School of Business, she is known for strategic storytelling, crisis communications, and inclusive leadership that drives real results.
“We are incredibly proud of both Allison and Pamela for receiving these well-deserved awards,” said Maurice Pearl, Executive Director/CEO of The COMET. “Their leadership, dedication, and collaborative approach have been instrumental in advancing public transportation in our region. The successful penny tax referendum stands as a testament to their ability to engage the community and build support for critical infrastructure investments. On behalf of the staff and The Board of Directors, we congratulate them both.”
The COMET has continued to innovate in public transportation services and community engagement, strengthening connections with Midlands residents and promoting the organization’s progressive mobility services. Their collaborative efforts on the penny tax referendum demonstrated the power of effective partnership between elected officials and transportation professionals in securing community support for essential public services.
The Transportation Association of South Carolina (TASC) Annual Conference and Expo brings together transportation professionals, elected officials, and industry partners to share best practices, discuss emerging trends, and recognize excellence in public transportation across the state.
