The American Public Transportation Association announced the winners of the 2019 Rail Safety & Security Excellence Awards this past month and Metro Rail took home a Certificate of Merit for its mutual aid project. Metro and the Transit Police teamed up with the Buffalo Fire Department to update safety plans and procedures. More than 300 first responders were trained to respond more quickly and more effectively in the special rail environment. This is a national award, making this a significant achievement. Though still secondary to the primary goal: Keeping everyone safe and secure on Metro Rail.