San Diego transit agency earns perfect score in FTA review

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (SDMTS) received a perfect score in the Federal Transit Administration's triennial review of operations.

This marks the fourth consecutive time the agency has achieved a perfect score, SDMTS officials said in a press release. That means that for the past 12 years the FTA has found no deficiencies in SDMTS' management of FTA funds and program implementation.

The review focused on compliance in 20 areas, including maintenance, safety and security, financial management and equal employment opportunities.

A key part of SDMTS' preparation for the review was the introduction of a new asset-tracking system. In 2016, the agency changed from operating multiple financial and asset-tracking systems to operating one transit asset management program, dubbed the SAP Enterprise Planning system.

"The triennial review is a demanding process that looks into every aspect of the MTS operation," said SDMTS Chief Executive Officer Paul Jablonski. "Continuing a track record of perfect scores is a testament to the effort our staff puts into the everyday operations and to the attention to detail."

SDMTS operates a 54-mile light-rail system in the San Diego area.