APTA Announces 2023 Rail Safety, Security, and Emergency Management Winners
The awards recognize transit organizations for their innovative and proactive safety and security programs.
The 2023 Rail Safety, Security and Emergency Management Award winners are awarded in categories of Commuter/Intercity Rail, Light Rail/Streetcar, and Heavy Rail.
Photo: MTA/Patrick Cashin
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) honored nine public transportation providers from California, Georgia, Louisiana, New York, Oregon, and Texas with the 2023 Rail Safety, Security, and Emergency Management Awards.
The awards 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 though partnerships, planning, exercises, and drills.
“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.”
How the Awards are Determined
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 – Commuter/Intercity Rail
Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet), Portland, Ore. – Light Rail/Streetcar
Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART), Oakland, Calif. – Heavy Rail
Certificate of Merit Winners
Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink), Los Angeles – Commuter/Intercity Rail
Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT), Sacramento, Calif. – Light Rail/Streetcar
RAIL SECURITY AWARD
Gold Winners
Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet), Portland, Ore. – Light Rail/Streetcar
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), Atlanta – Heavy Rail Certificate of Merit Winner
Niagara Frontier Transit Authority (NFTA), Buffalo, N.Y. – Light Rail/Streetcar
RAIL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AWARD
Gold Winners
MTA Metro-North Railroad, New York – Commuter/Intercity Rail
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), Dallas – Light Rail/Streetcar Certificate of Merit Winner
New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA), New Orleans – Light Rail/Streetcar
More Rail
Penn Station Transformation Advances with Design Unveiling
The historic redesign will transform the busiest transit hub in the Western Hemisphere from the tracks to the street level, creating a more efficient, cleaner, and functional experience for more than 600,000 daily commuters and millions of visitors.
Read More →
Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 Advances into Major Construction Stage
New York Governor Kathy Hochul joined leadership from the MTA, elected officials, and Harlem community leaders to break ground on the major construction stage of the transformative Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project.
Read More →
The Invisible Infrastructure of Passenger Flow
What a seat reservation system on Austria’s Railjet trains reveals about the future of rider experience, and why U.S. agencies should pay attention.
Read More →
Caltrain Board Approves FY27 Budget, Endorses Efficiency Measures
The move ensures Caltrain service will continue operating as usual in the near term, but long-term financial challenges remain for the rail agency absent a new revenue source.
Read More →
Alstom Acquires Delaware Site to Support Amtrak NextGen Acela Fleet
The company is investing more than $55 million to acquire and improve the property and will employ approximately 100 people at this site once it is operational.
Read More →
When Routine Fails: How Public Transit Must Adapt for the World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will test transit agencies’ ability to manage unpredictable travel patterns, making real-time data and operational flexibility critical to moving millions of visitors efficiently.
Read More →
California Selects Team for Nation’s First True High-Speed Rail Track and Systems Contract
The board action follows completion of track installation at the 150-acre southern railhead in Kern County, which will serve as the staging and distribution hub for high-speed track and systems installation.
Read More →
Seattle's Sound Transit Launches New Sounder Railcars into Service
Alstom manufactured all the cars under a $46.5 million contract and came into service in anticipation of summer crowds for soccer and baseball.
Read More →
Alstom Partners With Universities to Build Rail Talent Pipeline
The partnerships include a new engineering scholarship fund at Alfred State College in Western New York and collaborations with transportation centers at the University of Pennsylvania and New York University.
Read More →
Chicago's NITA Act Moves Into Next Phase as Service Improvements Begin
Rider-focused improvements will begin rolling out across the system immediately as CTA, Metra, and Pace increase service this summer in the six-county region.
Read More →