MTS honored by APTA as outstanding public transportation system

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) announced Thursday that San Diego's MTS will be recognized as the 2026 Outstanding Public Transportation System serving 50 million or more annual passenger trips. MTS shares the honor this year with three smaller agencies: Indian River Transit (less than 3 million annual passenger trips), Caltrain (3-15 million annual passenger trips), and Valley Metro (15-50 million annual passenger trips).

The Distinguished Service award will go to Nashville mayor Freddie O’Connell, while the award for Outstanding Public Transportation Chief Executive Officer will go to Las Vegas RTC exec MJ Maynard-Carey. Metrolink and the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority will also recieve an APTA Innovation Award for the implementation of Zero-Emission Multiple Unit (ZEMU) hydrogen trainsets on Metrolink's Arrow Service.

ZEMU unit in storage, Arrow maintenance facility, San Bernardino (Samuel Sharp / BuildSD)

“Congratulations to the 2026 APTA Award winners and Hall of Fame inductees. Their leadership reflects the very best of our industry, and it shows in their relentless commitment to connecting communities, advancing innovation, and improving the lives of the riders they serve every day. I’m proud to celebrate their achievements alongside the entire APTA community,” said Leanne Redden, APTA Board Chair, in a statement posted to the APTA website on Thursday.

MTS last recieved the award in 2009, at another time when the agency was embroiled in a fiscal crisis, then due to the removal of state assistance.