NCTD Spearheads Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Coalition

North County Transit–San Diego Railroad (NCTD) is committed to combating human trafficking. In its announcement marking January as Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month, NCTD outlined efforts to strengthen prevention and response efforts.

The agency is spearheading the Southern California Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention (SC-HTAP) Coalition, a task force composed of local state and federal agencies. The multi-agency effort will focus on training frontline transit employees, raising awareness, and encouraging coordinated reporting and response efforts.

Throughout January, NCTD and SC-HTAP have been conducting trainings, community presentations, and public outreach campaigns designed to: 

• Educate the public about indicators of human trafficking 
• Promote available victim support services 
• Encourage reporting to law enforcement and national hotlines 
• Strengthen regional coordination to prevent and disrupt trafficking activity

Transit systems provide critical visibility into communities and populations that may be at risk. With California accounting for 14.4 percent of all cases of human trafficking reported in the United States, NCTD plays a unique role in identifying and reporting potential trafficking activities.

To learn more about how the industry intersects with human trafficking, join APTA on Monday, Jan. 26 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. Experts will discuss lessons learned, resources, and best practices for implementing anti-trafficking initiatives.