Metro Bus receives innovation award for safety program
On Monday, October 19, 2026, Metro Bus was proud to receive the Minnesota Public Transit Association (MPTA) Management Innovation Award for its Accident Reduction Package. The award shows the incredible dedication of all Metro Bus employees to delivering safe, reliable and friendly public transportation to Central Minnesota communities!
The award was presented at the annual MPTA Conference being held in St. Cloud October 19-21 and highlights a public transit system with a unique project or approach to solve transit user challenges.
Metro Bus transformed accident prevention from a primarily reactive process into a comprehensive, collaborative and data-driven management system that produced measurable safety improvements while strengthening employee development, organizational accountability and Metro Bus’s overall safety culture. Metro Bus developed its Accident Reduction Package after recognizing that preventable accidents could not be effectively addressed through discipline or isolated training efforts alone and recognized an opportunity to create a more proactive approach in one coordinated strategy.
Members of the Metro Bus Executive and Management teams pose with a Fixed Route bus at the 2026 Minnesota Public Transit Association Conference.
Rather than continuing to address each accident individually, Metro Bus used the data to identify underlying risk. They also redesigned how employees are supported following preventable accidents, balancing accountability with professional development, helping Bus Operators correct unsafe behaviors and strengthen their skills.
Specific changes included:
- Creation of a multidisciplinary Accident Review Committee
- Annual Operator Training Activities combine classroom instruction, practical driving assessments, and individualized feedback.
- Digital accident board displays days since the last preventable accident
- Monthly safety reporting
- Employee newsletters and communication screens
- Safety committees
- Recognition programs and wellness initiatives
- Technology investments
The changes continually reinforce safe behaviors and shared responsibility as well as giving employees access to performance information and opportunities to contribute ideas for improvement.
The Accident Reduction Package achieved a 45% reduction in preventable accidents over the past decade and contributed to strong performance during safety inspections and evaluations. Customers benefit from safer and more reliable transportation, while fewer preventable accidents reduce risk, help prevent service disruptions, protect public assets and strengthen community confidence in public transit.
With this change safety is no longer viewed as the responsibility of a single department. Bus Operators, Maintenance staff, Supervisors, Trainers, Managers, safety professionals and executive leadership all have a role in achieving Metro Bus’s safety goals. Metro Bus successfully created a culture of accountability, learning, employee participation and continuous improvement.
Metro Bus Training & Safety Manager Scott Stark (right) shares the details of the Accident Reduction Package with the awards banquet audience while Metro Bus COO Dave Green (middle) and MPTA President Brandon Nurmi (left) look on.
