PITTSBURGH — Metro-North Railroad and Portland’s Tri-Met each were honored twice when the American Public Transportation Association announced its 2023 Rail Safety, Security, and Emergency Management Awards on Teusday.
The awards recognize transit organizations for innovative and proactive safety and security programs, and beginning this year include a category to recognize excellence 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.
“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,” APTA CEO Paul P. Skoutelas said in a press release. “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 Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Metro-North Railroad received Gold awards for both Safety and Emergency Management in the commuter/intercity rail category, while Tri-Met (formally the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon) received Gold Awards in the light rail/streetcar category for Safety and Security.
Others receiving awards were:
Safety — Gold: Bay Area Rapid Transit District, Oakland, Calif., heavy rail; Certificate of Merit: Metrolink (Southern California Regional Rail Authority), Los Angeles, commuter/intercity rail; Sacramento (Calif.) Regional Transit District, light rail/streetcar.
Security — Gold: MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority), heavy rail; Certificate of Merit: Niagara Frontier Transit Authority, Buffalo, N.Y., light rail/streetcar.
Emergency Management — Gold: Dallas Area Rapid Transit, commuter/intercity rail; Certificate of Merit: New Orleans Regional Transit Authority, light rail/streetcar.
More information on each award winner is available at the APTA website.
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