According to APTA, the awards, which were given out during a recent rail conference in Pittsburgh, “recognize transit organizations for their innovative and proactive safety and security programs.” This year, APTA added a new category to honor transit agencies that “excel in the management of emergencies through partnerships, planning, exercises and drills.” 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, security or emergency management program.” A Certificate of Merit is given to organizations in recognition of “exceptional achievement in safety, security or emergency management.” The 2023 Rail Safety, Security and Emergency Management Award winners are awarded in categories of Commuter/Intercity Rail, Light Rail/Streetcar, and Heavy Rail. The 2023 winners are: Rail Safety Award Gold Winners MTA Metro-North Railroad, New York, New York – Commuter/Intercity Rail Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet), Portland, Oregon – Light Rail/Streetcar Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART), Oakland, California – Heavy Rail Certificate of Merit Winners Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink), Los Angeles, California – Commuter/Intercity Rail Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT), Sacramento, California – Light Rail/Streetcar Rail Security Award Gold Winners Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet), Portland, Oregon – Light Rail/Streetcar Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), Atlanta, Georgia – Heavy Rail Certificate of Merit Winner Niagara Frontier Transit Authority (NFTA), Buffalo, New York – Light Rail/Streetcar Rail Emergency Management Award Gold Winners MTA Metro-North Railroad, New York, New York – Commuter/Intercity Rail Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), Dallas, Texas – Light Rail/Streetcar Certificate of Merit Winner New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA), New Orleans, Louisiana – Light Rail/Streetcar “These awards highlight the dedication and hard work of individuals and organizations that strive to ensure the safety and well-being of passengers, employees, and the communities they serve,” said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. “I want to congratulate the public transit agencies being honored today for their exceptional achievements in safety, security and emergency management, and for being an inspiration to others in the industry.” More information about the winning programs is available here. The post APTA Announces 2023 Rail Safety, Security and Emergency Management Winners appeared first on Railway Age. Continue reading...