Media Relations Contact:
Gordon Shattles
Mark A. Ball

June 26, 2019

DART Wins APTA Security Gold Award

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has awarded Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) its 2019 Gold Award for Security for light rail and streetcar systems at the annual APTA Rail Conference in Toronto, Ontario.

"Congratulations to the award winning public transit systems for their successful safety and security transportation programs that are models of excellence for the rest of the industry," said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. "These initiatives illustrate the ongoing commitment to improving safety and security in the public transit industry."

DART won the gold, competing in the light rail/streetcar category, for creating the largest on-going security endeavor in the agency's history by addressing customer perceptions of crime and security.

Deputy Chief of DART Police Edward Addison (center left) and Carol Wise, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, accept the award for DART

• immediately increasing DART police presence at Dallas downtown stations and adjacent areas located in the heart of the Dallas Central Business District (CBD);
• increasing patrol coverage for other DART facilities within the CBD;
• deploying additional DART police and fare enforcement officers to patrol trains while in service, with 100 percent coverage by March 2018;
• completing the installation of CCTV cameras on the first 48 light rail vehicles by March 2018 and on the entire fleet of 163 light rail vehicles by March 2020;
• increasing and improving coordination between DART Police and the 13 service area cities;
• implementing various other technology enhancements to support efforts to strengthen security;
• implementing environmental design improvements by maintenance and amenities staff to enhance security at DART facilities;
• implementing a marketing and communications messaging strategy to increase the public's awareness of all the DART security initiatives;
• and commissioning a 5-year strategic staffing plan to continue these initiatives.