Safety & Security

Maryland Department of Transportation MTA Wins National Award for Bus Safety

June 1, 2017

Related To: Maryland Transit Administration (MTA)

The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) is the 2017 recipient of the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Certificate of Merit for Bus Safety. The award was announced this month at APTA’s National Bus and Paratransit Conference in Reno, Nevada.

MDOT MTA was recognized for its new bus turn alert system designed to reduce vehicle-pedestrian accidents.

The Protran1 Safe Turn Alert System broadcasts an audible warning message over speakers inside and outside the bus to indicate when a bus is turning right or left. The system also has flashing light-emitting diode (LED) strobe lights that can act as a visual warning to pedestrians as the bus turns.

"Safety is our number one priority,” said MDOT MTA Administrator and CEO Paul Comfort. “It is an honor to be recognized by our peers as an industry leader in utilizing technological solutions to enhance the overall safety of our system. Alerting pedestrians and passengers when a bus is turning is the type of improvement that shows our commitment to provide safe, efficient and reliable transit with world-class customer service."

The Protran1 Safe Turn Alert System is installed on 425 MDOT MTA buses. Plans are underway to equip the entire fleet of 750 buses as older buses are retired.