TSA honors SacRT with ‘Gold Standard Award’ for transit security and emergency preparedness programs

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) honored the Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) with the prestigious Gold Standard Award at a meeting of the transit agency’s Board of Directors meeting Monday evening. TSA Federal Security Director Sid Hanna presented the award to SacRT’s General Manager/CEO Henry Li.

The Gold Standard Award is the top recognition TSA can give to a transit agency for achieving top scores during an annual review of 17 categories of security and emergency preparedness elements. The review evaluates several aspects of a transit agency’s operations including the security plan; security training; drills and exercise programs; public outreach efforts; and background check processes.

“SacRT’s designation as a Gold Standard Award winner puts the agency in the top tier of transit agencies, recognizing its hard work and unwavering commitment to security,” said Sid Hanna, TSA Federal Security Director in Sacramento. “TSA looks forward to a continued partnership with SacRT and applauds it continued focus on the security of its customers.”

“The safety and security of our passengers and employees is our top priority every day,” said Henry Li, SacRT General Manager/CEO. “We are honored to have been recognized for our work and we will continue to strive for the highest level of excellence in the years to come.”

“I applaud SacRT for prioritizing safety and security in recent years during their historic transformation,” Congresswoman Doris Matsui said. “The TSA Gold Standard Award is recognition for implementing best in industry security practices and for emphasizing the customer experience first.”

“I am delighted that SacRT is being recognized for its commitment to transit security and emergency preparedness,” said Congressman Ami Bera. “This prestigious award reflects SacRT’s implementation of security programs that benefit the Sacramento community.”

TSA has oversight of 6,800 public transit agencies in the country. Every year, the TSA assesses a select number of transit agencies nationwide for evaluation through its Baseline for Security Enhancement (BASE) program. A select few achieve scores high enough to receive the Gold Standard Award.

In the most recent round of BASE evaluations, TSA reviewed 92 transit agencies. This is the first time SacRT has earned the Gold Standard Award.

SacRT operates approximately 70 bus routes, including fixed-route, dial-a-ride and microtransit, 43 miles of light rail and ADA paratransit services. It serves a 400-square mile area throughout Sacramento County, which includes service in the cities of Citrus Heights, Folsom, Rancho Cordova and Elk Grove. Sacramento buses and light rail trains operate 365 days a year. SacRT’s entire bus and light rail system is accessible to the disabled community.

SacRT was one of seven transit agencies nationwide to be honored with the award during the most recent evaluation phase. Other agencies that received the Gold Standard Award are North County Transit District in North County San Diego, Calif.; Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority in Pinellas County, Fla.; Denver Regional Transportation District in Denver, Colo.; MetroLink St. Louis in St. Louis, Mo.; Regional Transportation Commission Washoe in Reno, Nev.; and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority in Washington, D.C.