MTS Scores Perfect Again During Surprise CHP Audit

San Diego – The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System’s (MTS) bus operations team received surprise visits from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) that resulted in no identified defects to its bus fleet once again, repeating the same perfect score the agency obtained in 2017.

“MTS’s programs, plans, testing, maintenance and vehicles have scored perfect once more during CHP’s unannounced audit,” said Sharon Cooney, chief executive officer of MTS. “It’s a significant achievement. All the credit with this accomplishment goes to the thorough and detailed work by MTS employees in the bus maintenance division.”

State law mandates the CHP’s Basic Inspection of Terminals Program take place at MTS no less than once every 13 months. These unannounced inspections take two to three days at each division and require a minimum of 20 vehicles to be examined for any defects and vehicle code violations. The primary areas of the inspection are:

• Vehicle Inspections – braking, steering and suspension systems, tires, wheels, etc.
• Vehicle Preventative Maintenance Records
• Controlled Substances and Alcohol, Use and Testing
• Drivers Hours of Service
• Department of Motor Vehicle Pull Notice Program
• Driver Proficiency and Training Records

Any and all defects identified are required to be repaired before returning the vehicles to service. If 20 percent or more of the vehicles inspected are placed out of service the transit system will receive an Unsatisfactory Rating and may be required to cease operations immediately.

MTS operates more than 800 commercial vehicles under the inspection program from five bus divisions covering the east and south county, as well as San Diego’s urban core. The agency, as required by the regulation, has received an inspection at its divisions annually since the program was developed.

MTS continues to operate about 95 bus routes and three Trolley lines. Frequencies and spans have been restored to near-pre-COVID-19 levels. Updated schedules can be accessed on the MTS website. MTS asks that that people wear face coverings at all times and practice physical distancing when possible.

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