The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Security Department has clinched the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Gold Standard Award, a signal honor highlighting the transit agency's dedication to maintaining a robust security protocol. This commendation is not handed out lightly; according to a statement released by the agency itself, MTS is one of just two transit agencies across the nation to lay claim to this recognition in 2024.
Held aloft by the high scores from the Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement (BASE), the Gold Standard Award is a medal and a testimony to MTS's comprehensive security apparatus. "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," TSA San Diego Field Office Lead Inspector Chris Hatfield was quoted as praising the agency in the statement obtained by the MTS. With approximately 80.1 million passengers served in FY 2025, the transit system's growth in ridership, recouping swiftly post-pandemic, is a testament to this accolade's weight.
Sharon Cooney, MTS Chief Executive Officer, iterated the agency's unwavering commitment to passenger and employee safety, taking pride in the recognition: "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," she conveyed in a statement procured from the MTS.
Security at MTS isn't just about responding to threats. It is preventative and proactive, with BASE covering 17 critical areas from program management to information sharing and cybersecurity. To boost its readiness, MTS has ramped up its security investments. Among the upgrades, doubling the number of plain-clothes security team officers and enriching its information security technologies are now aligned with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework. The upgrades, informed by the transit agency, extend to intensified presence measures both seen and unseen - like increasing "train teams" on Trolley lines and expanding the homeless outreach to keep the transit system secure and responsive to community needs.
The transit agency, operating 92 bus routes and four Trolley lines, has also been proactive in other critical areas such as emergency response training and public awareness programs, having doubled the Bus Enforcement security team, extending security beyond the major transit centers. This, coupled with the addition of security outposts at busy transit centers, has ensured officers minimize travel times and maximize their presence within the transit system.
