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NJ TRANSIT WINS APTA’S 2023 GOLD AWARD FOR BUS SECURITY

NJ TRANSIT Recognized by the American Public Transportation Association For Its Bus Operator De-Escalation Training

April 26, 2023

NEWARK, NJ — For the third time in two years, NJ TRANSIT has been nationally recognized for its advancements in safety and security. NJ TRANSIT was presented the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Bus Safety and Security Excellence Gold Award at the 2023 APTA Mobility Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 25th. NJ TRANSIT was chosen for its De-Escalation/Operator Assault training program, developed by NJ TRANSIT Bus Operations that now includes an additional module introduced by the New Jersey Transit Police Department (NJTPD) and presented to front-line bus employees to help manage difficult situations and minimize the potential for employee assaults. 

“Providing our employees with training to defuse difficult situations is critically important to improving the security of the statewide-bus system,” said New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chair Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti.  “NJ TRANSIT is honored to accept this award and will continue to make safety and security a priority for all of its employees and customers.”

“NJ TRANSIT is honored to receive this prestigious award from APTA for our efforts to enhance the safety and security of our customers and bus employees, and proud of our bus employees and the New Jersey Transit Police Department for their outstanding achievements in safety and security,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett. “Our de-escalation training program is a vital tool to equip frontline staff with the skills and confidence to prevent potential assaults and is part of our ongoing efforts to protect customers and employees, and to foster a culture of civility and respect on our buses.” 

“This de-escalation training is an important tool for our operators to maintain their safety while on the job,” said Senior Vice President of Surface Transit and General Manager of Bus Operations Michael Kilcoyne. “The ability to report and respond to violence or criminal activity at the earliest stage is critical to protecting our employees and customers.”

“Protecting our transit workers continues to be a top priority at NJ TRANSIT,” said New Jersey Transit Police Chief Christopher Trucillo. “Providing our employees with the best possible training to handle certain situations is critical to their safety. NJ TRANSIT is proud to be recognized as an industry leader for these important bus security improvements.”