APTA 2017 Rail Safety & Security Excellence Awards Announced
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) announced the winners of the annual Rail Safety & Security Excellence Awards, which recognizes rail systems in North America for their excellence in safety and security programs and operations. The awards ceremony took place on June 12, at the 2017 APTA Rail Conference, which was held in Baltimore, Maryland.
"These are the professionals who make us proud to be members of the public transportation family," said APTA Chair Doran J. Barnes. "Keeping our riders, employees and communities safe is the most important thing we do every day. Their accomplishments are what make a safe rail public transit industry even safer."
"This year's winners show that the industry is continuing to innovate as we make riding on rail public transit safe and secure," said APTA Acting President and CEO Richard A. White. "These best practices are the best of the best and contribute to the fact that traveling by rail is among the safest way to travel."
Category: Gold Awards Heavy Rail
Gold Award for Safety — Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), Atlanta, Georgia — MARTA improved employee and contractor safety on the right of way, and the agency produced an enhanced version of the Wayside Access Procedure manual/Standard Operation Procedures. Since 2001, MARTA has not had any employee or contractor fatalities on the right of way.
Gold Award for Security — Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro), Los Angeles, California — LA Metro developed a Transit Homeless Action Plan which served as the guide to improve safety for passengers and employees and coordinated outreach and engagement efforts towards the homeless. LA Metro established a 24 hour, 7 day a week hotline that aligned with the "Peace Over Violence" program created by the LA Sheriff's Department and a non-profit.
Category: Gold Awards Light rail/Streetcar
Gold Award for Safety — Metro Transit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota — Metro Transit executed a comprehensive public outreach and engineering program to enhance pedestrian safety around its light rail lines. The initiative included billboards, on-board and platform advertisements, social media advertisements that collectively reached more than 2 million people. Flashing train headlights and new cautionary signals at grade crossings were also implemented. The number of pedestrian collisions was cut in half in the year following the combined efforts, and operators reported significantly less use of the emergency brake.
Gold Award for Security — Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), Baltimore, Maryland — MTA used data to analyze crime and specifically fare evasions and the MTA Police Force has increased the issuance of citations for fare evasion since 2014 by 109 percent. The highly visible activity of fare evasion enforcement contributed to a reduction in serious crime by 43 percent.
Certificate of Merit Winners
Heavy Rail
Certificate of Merit for Safety — Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA), Cleveland, Ohio — GCRTA implemented an Emergency Pantograph Lowering System that helps saves lives by keeping the Train Operator out of unnecessary danger as well as lowering the cost of claims, repair and maintenance to heavy rail vehicles.
Light rail/Streetcar
Certificate of Merit for Safety — San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), San Diego, California — The MTS implemented "Trolley Renewal" which is a State of Good Repair program that increased their system's safety and reliability. Due to the program, there was a 50% reduction in liability claims, injuries related to vehicle boardings were eliminated, and zero roadway incidents occurred involving trains or track equipment.
Certificate of Merit for Security — Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), San Jose, California — The VTA conducted a Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement (BASE) in collaboration with TSA. This contributed to their successful crowd management which allowed VTA to safely and securely transport spectators to events at Levi's Stadium which included Super Bowl 50.
