ORLANDO, FLORIDA (November 9, 2021) – The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) announced today the winners of the 2021 Bus and Rail Safety, Security and COVID Response Excellence Awards.

“Our industry has collaborated and worked diligently to continue to address security and safety advancements while building responses to COVID-19 during the pandemic. Congratulations to the public transit systems and private management companies being recognized as models of excellence for the industry,” said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. “Their work provides a blueprint that can be implemented in systems nationwide and shows the ongoing commitment to improving safety and security for their passengers, employees, and communities in the public transportation industry.”

The APTA Bus and Rail Safety & Security Excellence Awards recognize public transit providers for their innovative and proactive safety and security programs. These awards help to build the industry by benchmarking successful programs so other systems can implement and fine-tune their programs based on the findings of their peers.

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 or security program. A Certificate of Merit is given to organizations in recognition of exceptional achievement in safety or security.

The 2021 Safety & Security Excellence Award winners are awarded in categories based on rail modes and bus ridership. Winners include systems from California, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Ohio, Ontario, Quebec, and Texas.

Full descriptions and summaries for bus and rail winners.

COVID RESPONSE AWARD

Bus Gold Winners

  • Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro), Los Angeles, CA – More than 20 million passenger trips annually
  • Metrolinx (GO Transit), Toronto, ON – More than 4 million and fewer than 20 million passenger trips annually
  • City of Gardena (GTrans), Gardena, CA – Fewer than 4 million passenger trips annually

 Bus Merit Winners                                                               

  • AC Transit, Oakland, CA – More than 20 million passenger trips annually
  • Palm Tran, West Palm Beach, FL – More than 4 million and fewer than 20 million passenger trips annually
  • Manatee County Area Transit, Bradenton, FL – Fewer than 4 million passenger trips annually

RAIL Gold Winners

  • Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA), Cleveland, OH – Heavy Rail
  • Trinity Metro, Fort Worth, TX – Commuter/Intercity Rail
  • San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), San Diego, CA – Light Rail/Streetcar

Rail Merit Winners

  • San Bernadino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA), San Bernadino, CA – Commuter/Intercity Rail
  • Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston Metro), Houston, TX – Light Rail/Streetcar

SAFETY EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Bus Gold Winners

  • The New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit), Newark, NJ – More than 20 million passenger trips annually
  • METRO Regional Transit Authority, Akron, OH –More than 4 million and fewer than 20 million passenger trips annually
  • City of Gardena (GTrans), Gardena, CA – Fewer than 4 million passenger trips annually
  • MTM Transit, Sarasota County, FL – Private Companies Providing Contracted Service

 

Rail Gold Winners

  • MTA Metro-North Railroad, New York, NY – Commuter/Intercity Rail
  • Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), Boston, MA – Light Rail/Streetcar


Rail Merit Winners

  • The New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit), Newark, NJ – Commuter/Intercity Rail
  • New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (NORTA), New Orleans, LA – Light Rail/Streetcar

SECURITY EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Bus Gold Winners

  • Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, Los Vegas, NV – More than 20 million passenger trips annually
  • Regional Transit Authority (METRO), Akron, OH – more than 4 million and fewer than 20 million passenger trips annually

 

Rail Gold Winners

  • Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT), Sacramento, CA – Light Rail/Streetcar
  • Société de transport de Montréal (STM), Montreal, QC – Heavy Rail

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The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is a nonprofit international association of 1,500 public- and private-sector organizations which represent a $80 billion industry that directly employs 448,000 people and supports millions of private sector jobs. APTA members are engaged in the areas of bus, paratransit, light rail, commuter rail, subways, waterborne services, and intercity and high-speed passenger rail. This includes: transit systems; planning, design, construction, and finance firms; product and service providers; academic institutions; transit associations and state departments of transportation. APTA is the only association in North America that represents all modes of public transportation. APTA members serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical transit services and products.