BALTIMORE, MD (MAY 31, 2017) – The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) is the 2017 recipient of the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Certificate of Merit for Bus Safety. The award was announced this month at APTA’s National Bus and Paratransit Conference in Reno, Nevada.

MDOT MTA was recognized for its new bus turn alert system designed to reduce vehicle-pedestrian accidents.

The Protran1 Safe Turn Alert System broadcasts an audible warning message over speakers inside and outside the bus to indicate when a bus is turning right or left. The system also has flashing light-emitting diode (LED) strobe lights that can act as a visual warning to pedestrians as the bus turns.

"Safety is our number one priority,” said MDOT MTA Administrator and CEO Paul Comfort. “It is an honor to be recognized by our peers as an industry leader in utilizing technological solutions to enhance the overall safety of our system. Alerting pedestrians and passengers when a bus is turning is the type of improvement that shows our commitment to provide safe, efficient and reliable transit with world-class customer service."

The Protran1 Safe Turn Alert System is installed on 425 MDOT MTA buses. Plans are underway to equip the entire fleet of 750 buses as older buses are retired.

About APTA
APTA is a nonprofit international association of 1,500 public and private sector organizations engaged in bus, paratransit, light rail, commuter rail, subway, waterborne services and intercity and high-speed passenger rail. This includes transit systems; planning, design, construction and finance firms; product and service providers; academic institutions; and transit associations and state departments of transportation. APTA is the only association in North America that represents all modes of public transportation. APTA members serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical transit services and products. More than 90 percent of the people using public transportation in the United States and Canada ride APTA member systems. To learn more, visit apta.com.

About MDOT MTA
MDOT MTA is one of the largest multi-modal transit systems in the United States operating Local and Commuter buses, Light Rail, Metro Subway, Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) Train service, and a comprehensive Paratransit (Mobility) system. MTA also manages the Taxi Access system and directs funding and statewide assistance to Locally Operated Transit Systems (LOTS) in each of Maryland’s 23 counties, Annapolis, Baltimore City and Ocean City. MDOT is a customer-driven leader that delivers safe, sustainable, intelligent and exceptional transportation solutions in order to connect our customers to life’s opportunities. MTA’s goal is to provide safe, efficient and reliable transit across Maryland with world-class customer service. To learn more, visit mdot.maryland.gov or mta.maryland.gov, check us out on Facebook at facebook.com/mtamaryland and follow us on Twitter @mtamaryland.