Honoring the 2026 APTA Rail Safety, Security & Emergency Management Award Winners!
6/30/2026
At its 2026 Rail Conference in Baltimore, MD, APTA honored 10 public transportation providers from California, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Texas, and Washington, DC, with its 2026 Rail Safety, Security, and Emergency Management Awards.
“These awards celebrate the innovation and dedication of public transit agencies and their employees who work daily to protect their passengers, colleagues, and the communities they serve,” said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. “APTA congratulates the public transit agencies honored today for their strong performance in safety, security, and emergency management. Their commitment to excellence sets a positive example for the entire industry.”
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 2026 Rail Safety, Security and Emergency Management Award winners are recognized in the categories of Commuter/Intercity Rail, Light Rail/Streetcar, and Heavy Rail. The 2026 winners are:
RAIL SAFETY AWARD
Gold Winners
- New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (NYMTA) Metro-North Railroad, New York, NY – Commuter Rail
- NYMTA New York City Transit, New York, NY – Heavy Rail/Subways
- Maryland Transit Administration, Baltimore, MD – Light Rail/Streetcar
Certificate of Merit Winners
- Caltrain, Millbrae, CA – Commuter Rail
- North County Transit – San Diego Railroad, Oceanside, CA – Commuter Rail
- Houston METRO, Houston, TX – Light Rail/Streetcar
RAIL SECURITY AWARD
Gold Winners
- NYMTA Metro-North Railroad, New York, NY and NYMTA Long Island Rail Road, Jamaica, NY – Commuter Rail
- NYMTA New York City Transit, New York, NY – Heavy Rail
Certificate of Merit Winner
- North County Transit – San Diego Railroad, Oceanside, CA – Commuter Rail
RAIL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AWARD
Gold Winners
- NYMTA Metro-North Railroad, New York, NY – Commuter Rail
- Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Washington, DC – Heavy Rail/Subways
Certificate of Merit Winner
- NYMTA Long Island Rail Road, Jamaica, NY – Commuter Rail
RAIL SAFE, EFFECTIVE, AND CLEAN AWARD
Gold Winners
- NYMTA Metro-North Railroad, New York, NY – Commuter Rail
- Bay Area Rapid Transit, Oakland, CA – Heavy Rail/Subways
- Metro Transit, Minneapolis, MN – Light Rail/Streetcar
Certificate of Merit Winner
- Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Washington, DC – Heavy Rail/Subways
For more information about the award-winning programs, visit apta.com.