APTA announces Rail Safety & Security Excellence Award winners
Awards, which were presented at the 2016 Rail Conference in Phoenix, recognizes rail systems in North America for their excellence in safety and security programs and operations.


The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) announced the winners of the annual Rail Safety & Security Excellence Awards, which recognizes rail systems in North America for their excellence in safety and security programs and operations, at its 2016 Rail Conference in Phoenix.
"Congratulations to all the winners, but more to the point, congratulations to all these participants who thought outside the box and tried something new," said APTA Chair Valarie J. McCall. "When an organization successfully branches out and incorporates new ideas, it serves as a model for others to make our industry even safer."
Category: Gold Awards
GOLD Award for Heavy Rail Security – Baltimore’s Maryland Transit Administration won the GOLD Award for its ZEUS Program, which stands for "Zone Enforced Unified Sweeps.” The program has seen a 49% reduction in Part One major crime on the subway.
GOLD Award for Commuter Rail Safety – MTA Metro-North Railroad implemented a new procedure for protecting track workers. Under this innovative system only the foreman in the field can release the track for trains with a unique code that the train dispatcher does not have.
GOLD Award for Light Rail Safety – Md. MTA also won for the Maryland Light Rail Railroad Worker Protection (RWP) Program. Since the implementation of the RWP there have been no employee injuries or fatalities from on-track safety.
Category: Certificate of Merit
Certificate of Merit for Light Rail Safety – San Diego Metropolitan Transit System for its "Building on a Foundation of Safety" initiative.
Certificate of Merit for Light Rail Safety – Utah Transit Authority for the "TRAX Light Rail Pedestrian Treatments and Enhancements."
More Rail

New York MTA Leverages Zoning Program to Advance Station Accessibility
Accessibility enhancements at Nevins St Station will be financed through a development agreement tied to the MTA's Zoning for Accessibility initiative.
Read More →
Virginia's $28.5B Transportation Plan Targets Transit and Rail
Approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, the program supports ongoing infrastructure projects while providing new investments in transit, state of good repair and transportation alternatives.
Read More →
DOT: Brightline Corridor Incidents Fall 30% Following Federal Safety Upgrades
Safety improvements funded through a $25 million federal investment are credited with reducing trespassing and train-vehicle collisions along the Brightline Florida corridor.
Read More →
D Line Expansion Fuels Growth Across LA Metro's Rail System
Weekend rail ridership was especially strong, soaring 18% as riders embraced expanded access to jobs, entertainment, dining, and cultural destinations, said the agency. Total system ridership for May, including bus and rail, was 26,966,657.
Read More →
Southern California's Metrolink Debuts Contactless Fare Payment Pilot
Customers traveling between Redlands and Los Angeles can now tap their preferred payment method, including a credit or debit card, mobile wallet, or wearable device, at station validators before boarding and again while exiting.
Read More →
California's BART Approves FY27 Budget While Maintaining Service Levels
The budget covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, a period when pandemic emergency funds run out, the District faces a structural deficit of $375 million, and a regional transit funding measure may appear on the November ballot.
Read More →
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 →