Release Date: September 29,2020
METRO RTA Recognized with Certificate of Merit for its Security Efforts by the American Public Transportation Association.
September 29, 2020 - Akron, OH — METRO Regional Transit Authority is proud to announce it received a Certificate of Merit for Bus Security from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) 2020 Bus and Rail Safety & Security Excellence Awards.
METRO was recognized for exceptional achievement in bus security for mid-sized public transportation systems. Since the inception of METRO’s Transit Police Department in April 2017, the department has provided bus operator security refresher training to all bus operators, training on human trafficking given by the Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, and an active shooter drill, in addition to its day-to-day safety and security efforts.
“It is an honor for our team members to be recognized on the national level for their dedication to keep one another safe and our passengers safe,” said METRO CEO Dawn Distler. “This award is a testament to the high safety standards our team members hold themselves to.”
“This is an exciting recognition for us,” said METRO Transit Police Chief Shawn Metcalf. “We will continue to work with our local law enforcement partners, our school systems, and community organizations to continue to provide a safe and dependable transportation service to Summit County.”
The APTA Bus and Rail Safety & Security Excellence Awards recognize public transit providers for their innovative and proactive safety and security programs. These awards help to build the industry by benchmarking successful programs so other systems can implement and fine-tune their programs based on the findings of their peers.
METRO RTA is the public transportation provider in Summit County. METRO enhances the quality of life for our community by providing innovative transportation solutions that are safe, dependable, cost-effective and customer focused, now and into the future.