APTA Announces 2023 Rail Safety, Security and Emergency Management Winners (UPDATED June 14)
Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor
“These awards highlight the dedication and hard work of individuals and organizations that strive to ensure the safety and well-being of passengers, employees, and the communities they serve,” said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas.
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) on June 13 honored nine public transportation providers from California, Georgia, Louisiana, New York, Oregon and Texas with the 2023 Rail Safety, Security and Emergency Management Awards.
According to APTA, the awards, which were given out during the association’s June 13 Rail Conference in Pittsburgh, “recognize transit organizations for their innovative and proactive safety and security programs.” This year, APTA added a new category to honor transit agencies that “excel in the management of emergencies through partnerships, planning, exercises and drills.”
Nominations are evaluated on four criteria: effectiveness, benefit level, innovation, and transferability. The top honor is the Gold Award, which is presented to organizations with “the best example of a safety, security or emergency management program.” A Certificate of Merit is given to organizations in recognition of “exceptional achievement in safety, security or emergency management.”
The 2023 Rail Safety, Security and Emergency Management Award winners are awarded in categories of Commuter/Intercity Rail, Light Rail/Streetcar, and Heavy Rail. The 2023 winners are:
Rail Safety Award
Gold Winners
- MTA Metro-North Railroad, New York, New York – Commuter/Intercity Rail
- Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet), Portland, Oregon – Light Rail/Streetcar
- Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART), Oakland, California – Heavy Rail
Certificate of Merit Winners
- Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink), Los Angeles, California – Commuter/Intercity Rail
- Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT), Sacramento, California – Light Rail/Streetcar
Rail Security Award
Gold Winners
- Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet), Portland, Oregon – Light Rail/Streetcar
- Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), Atlanta, Georgia – Heavy Rail
Certificate of Merit Winner
- Niagara Frontier Transit Authority (NFTA), Buffalo, New York – Light Rail/Streetcar
Rail Emergency Management Award
Gold Winners
- MTA Metro-North Railroad, New York, New York – Commuter/Intercity Rail
- Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), Dallas, Texas – Light Rail/Streetcar
Certificate of Merit Winner
- New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA), New Orleans, Louisiana – Light Rail/Streetcar
“These awards highlight the dedication and hard work of individuals and organizations that strive to ensure the safety and well-being of passengers, employees, and the communities they serve,” said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. “I want to congratulate the public transit agencies being honored today for their exceptional achievements in safety, security and emergency management, and for being an inspiration to others in the industry.”
The MARTA Police Department (MPD), which was honored with the APTA 2023 Security Gold Award for heavy rail stations for its outstanding security programs, specifically the Joint Bike Patrol partnership with the Atlanta Police Department, provided the following statements in a release:
“It is an honor to receive this award and for the MARTA Police Department to be used as an industry benchmark,” said Chief Scott Kreher. “All the recognition goes to the dedicated and professional men and women who make up our police force, with a special mention to the officers who are part of the Joint Bike Patrol Team and our partners at the Atlanta Police Department. All our officers serve with the singular purpose of making MARTA safe and secure.”
“The most important responsibility as a transit agency and our number one priority is keeping our customers and employees safe,” said MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood. “To see Chief Kreher and MPD recognized for their efforts on a national stage is further proof that the MARTA Police Department is one of the top law enforcement agencies in the state.”
The Joint Bike Patrol Team (JBPT) was created in 2021, and the increased visibility and accessibility of officers has resulted in a 17% overall decrease in crime and a 22% increase in ridership and revenue due to “increased feelings of safety and security among passengers,” according to MARTA.
Thomas Moloney (pictured above; right), Director of Fire Life Safety at BART was also in attendance at the 2023 APTA Rail Conference. He accepted the 2023 APTA Rail Safety Gold Award for BART’s Fire Life Safety program on behalf of the agency.
More information about the winning programs is available here.
