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Metro brought first responders and public safety leaders from across the National Capital Region together for its second annual Safety and Security Summit, aiming to improve coordination and emergency response across jurisdictional lines.
Organized with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, the summit explored how artificial intelligence, cybersecurity tools and advanced video systems could strengthen real-time decisions, situational awareness and information sharing.
Thirty organizations participated, including the FBI, National Transportation Safety Board and Department of Defense, as well as local partners from across Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
Metro General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke said cooperation among regional and federal agencies is essential to providing safe trips for customers and a safe workplace for employees.
The transit agency operates across a 2,054-square-mile area serving approximately 4 million people. Its system includes six rail lines, 98 stations, 126 bus routes and door-to-door paratransit service.
Metro says close coordination with local, state and federal agencies has helped produce the lowest crime rate in the system’s history. More than 30,000 cameras monitor the network and assist emergency response, while increased enforcement has contributed to an 82% decline in rail fare evasion.
Summit participants also toured Metro’s Integrated Command and Communications Center to see how the agency manages safety emergencies and service disruptions.
Council of Governments Executive Director Clark Mercer said continued cooperation between Metro and area public safety agencies is creating a more coordinated approach to preventing crime and responding to critical incidents throughout the region.
Metro recorded 268.9 million trips in 2025 and operates with a $5 billion capital and operating budget. The American Public Transportation Association named it the 2025 Transit Agency of the Year, citing ridership growth, record customer satisfaction, expanded rail service, a redesigned bus network and improvements to the customer experience.