Evaluation Criteria for Bus Awards

Award Categories

For the purpose of the Bus Security awards, public transportation systems are divided into categories based upon annual unlinked passenger trips, consistent with other APTA awards. Please check the category that applies best for your agency or organization:

• Providing 3 million or fewer annual passenger trips
• Providing more than 3 million but fewer than 15 million annual passenger trips
• Providing more than 15 million but fewer than 50 million annual passenger trips
• Providing 50 million or more annual passenger trips
• Private companies providing contracted transportation management and services to public transportation systems

Security Program/Project Effectiveness (30 percent)

Describe the high level of resource allocation and management participation in the development and implementation of security or all-hazards 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 preparedness projects, programs, and initiatives that reflect the benefits (including financial benefits) the organization has derived. Describe 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)

Bus transportation is a dynamic environment that is constantly changing and challenging organizations to adapt to new situations. A systematic, “all-hazards” approach must include consideration of on-going changes within this public environment. Describe the methods used to advance security issues that address these external or internal circumstances that contribute to make a secure transit 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 others 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 document 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.

Award Categories

For the purpose of the Bus Security awards, public transportation systems are divided into categories based upon annual unlinked passenger trips, consistent with other APTA awards. Please check the category that applies best for your agency or organization:

• Providing 3 million or fewer annual passenger trips
• Providing more than 3 million but fewer than 15 million annual passenger trips
• Providing more than 15 million but fewer than 50 million annual passenger trips
• Providing 50 million or more annual passenger trips
• Private companies providing contracted transportation management and services to public transportation systems

Security Program/Project Effectiveness (30 percent)

Describe the high level of resource allocation and management participation in the development and implementation of security or all-hazards 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 preparedness projects, programs, and initiatives that reflect the benefits (including financial benefits) the organization has derived. Describe 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)

Bus transportation is a dynamic environment that is constantly changing and challenging organizations to adapt to new situations. A systematic, “all-hazards” approach must include consideration of on-going changes within this public environment. Describe the methods used to advance security issues that address these external or internal circumstances that contribute to make a secure transit 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 others 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 document 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?