Sound Transit earns “Gold Standard” rating in security program

Transportation Security Administration recognizes transit agency for achieving highest security levels

The Transportation Security Administration has commended Sound Transit as one of six rail and mass transit agencies across the country for earning TSA's highest rating of "Gold Standard" for their dedication to building a strong security program on their 2013 Baseline Assessments for Security Enhancement.

The BASE program is designed to establish a security standard for individual system security programs and assess progress. This voluntary comprehensive review of transit agency security programs focuses on multiple categories identified by the transit community as fundamentals for a sound transit security program. They include a review of topics such as an agency's security plans, security training, drills/exercise programs, public outreach efforts and background check programs. The BASE program analyzes the security program for each transit system and identifies opportunities to further enhance security.

These agencies were reviewed in 2013 and attained high scores across all categories. TSA considered this caliber of performance as reaching a "Gold Standard" and recognized them for having strong security programs.

In addition to Sound Transit, Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, Hampton Roads Transit, South Florida Regional Transportation Authority/Tri-Rail, Valley Metro and Capital District Transportation Authority were recognized for achieving the Gold Standard in 2013.

Thirty-seven other agencies have previously earned the Gold Standard Award level of security since 2010.