IndyGo Announced as APTA’s 2024 Certificate of Merit Winner for Bus Safety, Security and Emergency Management Awards

INDIANAPOLIS — IndyGo was recently announced as the 2024 Certificate of Merit Winner for the Bus Safety, Security and Emergency Management Awards at the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Mobility Conference in Portland, Oregon. APTA’s Bus Safety, Security and Emergency Management Awards recognize transit organizations for their innovative and proactive programs. 

IndyGo has developed a systematic, proactive approach to provide a safe and reliable transportation service to customers and Indianapolis residents, in addition to safe and healthy working conditions for employees. IndyGo and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) have adopted the principles and methods of Safety Management Systems (SMS) as the basis for enhancing the safety of public transportation. 

Safety is emphasized in IndyGo’s mission statement and permeates through the organization from frontline employees to the Board of Directors. The agency continues to positively change safety culture, making it a number one priority through the following measures: 

• Implementing safety engineering, which resulted in a reduction of collisions for the first of three Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines. 
• Implementing the IndyGo anonymous near-miss safety reporting line. 
• Continuing to promote and recognize bus operators for their safe driving practices. 
• Implementing driver assault barriers on all fixed-route and BRT buses. 
• Designing and building a mobile command vehicle in-house from a retired 40-foot bus. 
• Installing UV-C light air filtrations systems in IndyGo buildings and all transportation modes of service. 
• Creating two new safety committees for engagement from a top-down and bottom-up approach. 
• Establishing a new Emergency Response Team for education, planning, training, drills and evaluation of safety practices. 

Nominations are evaluated on four criteria: effectiveness, benefit level, innovation and transferability. A Certificate of Merit is given to organizations in recognition of exceptional achievement in safety or security.

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