Evaluation Criteria for Rail Awards

Safety Program/Project Effectiveness – 30 percent

Creating a safety culture within the organization begins at the top. The organization should be able to demonstrate a high level of resource allocation and management participation in the development and implementation of safety initiatives.

When considering whether or not your program should be entered, ask yourself

• “Does the program/project have a clear focus with specific intended results?” The organization should also be able to demonstrate solid and progressive results tied to overall agency goals and objectives.
• “Is there before/after data that will support the efficacy of the program/project?” At a minimum, each organization must submit their safety data for the previous three years to demonstrate how the program or practice has effectively influenced the achievement of goals and objectives.
• “Can the program/project be reasonably assumed to have led to the improvements?”
• “Does data support that reductions are being sustained?” Data must be clearly defined and all data submitted must be validated and approved in writing by the organization’s chief executive officer (president, general manager).

Other types of data to document safety performance might include:

• Statistics on accident claims paid indicating the economic benefit of safety improvements
• Data reflecting reduction in on-the-job injuries related to a specific initiative
• Trend data on public comments related to operator driving safety

Safety Program/Project Benefit Level – 35 percent

The bottom-line of an effective safety program should be reflected in the organization’s key performance metrics. Organizations should submit evaluations of safety projects, programs, and initiatives that reflect the benefits the organization has derived from the program or practice. Organizations should be able to demonstrate gains or efficiencies in a variety of formats by being able to address some of the following questions:

• What net financial benefits were accrued through implementation of this program/project?
• How do direct savings compare to the program/project costs?
• What indirect or non-financial benefits were achieved?
• Did the program/project address a significant issue facing the agency?

Safety Program/Project Innovation – 20 percent

Rail transportation is a dynamic environment that is constantly changing and challenging organizations to adapt to new situations. A systematic approach to safety must include consideration of on-going changes within this public environment. The organization should be able to demonstrate methods used to advance safety issues that address these external or internal circumstances.

Organizations should submit descriptions of innovative efforts having a positive effect on the operating environment and the safety of operators, pedestrians, passengers or otherwise principal inhabitants of that environment. Your submittal should illustrate the following:

• How does this program/project differ from traditional approaches to the problem?
• Does the program/project enhance common practices?
• Does the program/project reflect a totally new or unusual approach?
• How do the unique or innovative attributes of this project/program contribute to the effectiveness/ benefits achieved?

Safety Program/Project Transferability – 15 percent

To truly be considered an Industry Leading Effective Practice, other transit providers must be able to replicate the program and implement it with similar results. Programs and practices must be described in such a way that other operators benefit from the success that you have had. Measures viewed as promising can then be implemented within other systems, and in doing so, the entire industry is improved over time. Organizations should submit descriptions of initiatives they developed that can address the following:

• Does this program/project address an issue that is significant to many agencies?
• Can the program/project be reasonably incorporated by other agencies?
• Is the program/project likely to be more attractive than other existing approaches to the same types of safety issues?

These questions and examples are provided only to invoke ideas. A single program could relate to multiple criteria.

Award Categories

The Rail Security Award is presented in three categories which are derived from the National Transit Database. Please check the category that applies best for your agency or organization:

• Commuter/Intercity Rail
• Heavy Rail
• Light Rail/Street Car (includes “Intermediate Rail”)

Security Program/Project Effectiveness (30 percent)

Describe the high level of resource allocation and management participation in the development and implementation of security initiatives that promote or create a secure transit environment for employees and passengers.

When considering what to include in your application/nomination, ask yourself:

• Does the program/project have a clear focus with specific intended results?
• Is there before/after data that will support the efficacy of the program/project?
• Does data support that reductions are being sustained?
• Can the program/project be reasonably assumed to have led to the improvements?

Security Program/Project Benefit Level (35 percent)

Describe evaluations of security or emergency management projects, programs, and initiatives that reflect the benefits (including financial benefits) the organization has derived from the program or practice. Detail the gains or efficiencies of how the projects, programs, or initiatives made employees and passengers more secure or mitigated risk.

Organizations should be able to demonstrate gains or efficiencies in a variety of formats by being able to address some of the following questions:

• What net financial benefits were accrued through implementation of this program/project?
• How do direct savings compare to the program/project costs?
• What indirect or non-financial benefits were achieved?
• Did the program/project address a significant security issue facing the agency?
• Did the program/project save money?

Security Program/Project Innovation (20 percent)

Rail transportation is a dynamic environment that is constantly changing and challenging organizations to adapt to new situations. This is especially true in rail system security and emergency preparedness. Describe the innovative efforts having a positive effect on the operating environment and the safety/security of employees, passengers and the general public inhabiting that environment.

Your submittal should illustrate the following:

• How does this program/project differ from other security approaches to the problem?
• Does the program/project enhance common practices?
• How do the unique or innovative attributes of this project/program contribute to the effectiveness/ benefits achieved?
• How are these innovations different than what’s been done in the past?

Security Program/Project Transferability (15 percent)

To truly be considered an Industry Leading Effective Practice, other transit providers must be able to adapt the program and implement it with similar results. Programs and practices should be described in such a way that other operators or organizations may benefit from the success that you have had. Programs can then be implemented within other systems, and in doing so, the entire industry is improved over time.

Organizations should submit descriptions of initiatives they developed that can address the following:

• Does this program/project address an issue that is of significance to many agencies?
• Can the program/project be reasonably incorporated by other agencies?
• Is the program/project likely to be more attractive than other existing approaches to the same types of security issues?
• How can this program/project be transferred to other transit agencies?

Nomination Instructions:

• Provide security program element descriptions on this nomination form and attach any data that documents their effectiveness.
• Please attach any supporting documentation (i.e. letters, data, articles, etc.)
• All security-related data and program summaries should be accurate and verifiable.
• Along with the nomination form, submit a cover sheet with the signature of the agency’s Chief Executive Officers, or equivalent, attesting to the legitimacy of all information included.

The Safe, Effective, and Clean Transit Award will recognize best practices and ongoing efforts of transit agencies and contractors operating service across the country to deliver safe, clean, and reliable public transportation for employees and passengers.

The criteria for the award is centered on ensuring the safety and security of employees and passengers and to enhance public confidence in transit.

Core Evaluation Criteria

Nominations for the awards are evaluated based on four primary pillars:

• Effectiveness: Identify and disseminate innovative and successful policies, programs, and technologies related to safety, security, cleanliness, fare evasion prevention, and customer experience. Describe how effective the program is in providing safe, clean, and efficient service.
• Benefit Level: The impact of measures on safety and security for passengers and employees, the enhancement of public confidence in transit, success stories and innovations that demonstrate an agency or business commitment to providing safe, clean, and efficient service. Answer the question: Has this program improved the safety, security, cleanliness, and the efficiency of my public transportation agency? And if so, how?
• Innovation: Creative or unique approaches, proactive communications strategies, successful policies, programs, and technologies related to safety, security, cleanliness, fare evasion prevention, and customer experience. Explain how the innovation is providing safe, secure, effective, and clean service.
• Transferability: Ability for other transit systems or contractors to replicate these best practices. Could this program be transferred and adopted at other transit agencies? Is it easy to replicate and if so, how?