San Diego – The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Security Department received the highest level of recognition, the Gold Standard Award, from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for its work maintaining a safe and secure transit system. MTS is only one of two transit agencies nationwide to receive this recognition in 2024.
The Gold Standard Award is the highest level of recognition TSA can give to a transit agency for achieving top scores. TSA commended the agency for achieving a strong security program, as evidenced by the high scores the transit agency received on the most recent Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement (BASE).
TSA San Diego Field Office Lead Inspector Chris Hatfield stated, “San Diego MTS has a long history of world-class innovation in security and has maintained one of the highest levels of vigilance, preparedness and regional cooperation with other agencies that I’ve ever seen. We’re proud to recognize MTS as an industry leader, and are thankful for their continued partnership.”
MTS operates 92 bus routes and four Trolley lines in 10 cities and unincorporated areas of San Diego. The agency served approximately 80.1 million passengers in FY 2025 through its light rail and bus operations. It has the second fastest growing transit ridership in the United States since the COVID pandemic among the nation’s top 25 transit agencies.
“Safety and security of passengers and employees has always been the top priority at MTS,” said Sharon Cooney, MTS Chief Executive Officer. “Receiving the Gold Standard Award from TSA really validates all we’ve done recently to develop a comprehensive security program. It’s an honor to receive this prestigious recognition from TSA, and I am proud of all the MTS employees who contributed to this accomplishment.”
TSA developed BASE to support its strategic goals of increasing domain awareness, enhancing prevention and protection capabilities, and furthering response preparedness of transit system nationwide. BASE is a comprehensive review of MTS’s security program, focusing on 17 categories identified by the transit community as fundamental for a sound transit security program. MTS attained high scores across all categories.
The 17 categories cover a range of areas including security program management and accountability, security and emergency response training, drills and exercises, public awareness, protective measures for the National Terrorism Advisory System threat levels, physical and cyber security strategies, personnel security and information sharing and security.
MTS has made significant investments into its security program in recent years. This includes:
- Invested heavily in information security technologies and developed a mature security program aligned with National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework
- Increasing the number of Code Compliance Inspectors by 60% for better coverage and a stronger security presence
- Upgrading the security hotline technology to provide faster response times when passengers call or text for assistance
- Increasing security “train teams” on Trolley lines from 5-6 teams per shift to 8-10 teams per shift
- Doubling the Bus Enforcement security team to help extend security presence beyond major transit centers and light rail lines.
- Doubling the number of officers on the plain-clothes security team to increase the security patrols even when uniformed officers are not visible
- Boosting the homeless outreach team to seven-days-a-week to better connect those in need with social services
- Adding and staffing security outposts at busy transit centers so officers can spend more time on the system and less time traveling to/from headquarters
Photo 01 (From L to R):TSA Region 5 Acting Security Director Michael Madrigal, MTS Chief Executive Officer Sharon Cooney, MTS Director of Transit Security and Passenger Safety Tim Curran, Deputy Director of Security and Passenger Safety Daniel Brislin
Photo Group Shot: MTS Security and Cybersecurity Teams with TSA Region 5 Acting Security Director Michael Madrigal (front frow, third from left), MTS Director of Transit Security and Passenger Safety Tim Curran (fourth from left), MTS CEO Sharon Cooney (fifth from left), MTS Vice Chair of the Public Security Committee Patricia Dillard (sixth from left)
About MTS
The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) operates 92 bus routes and four Trolley lines in 10 cities and unincorporated areas of San Diego. MTS is a leader in advancing initiatives to create a greener, cleaner and better-connected transit system in San Diego. Each weekday more than 250,000 passenger trips are taken throughout the MTS system taking people to work, school, health appointments and other essential trips. In FY 2025, MTS served more than 80 million riders. For service schedule updates, news, alerts and more information on how you can use public transportation, go to www.sdmts.com.
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