Mandated by Congress in 1982, the Triennial Review examines how recipients of Urbanized Area Formula Program funds meet statutory and administrative requirements, according to the FTA. It is also said to help identify potential issues, provide support to grantees, mitigate risks, and improve public transparency.
The review assessed MTS’s management of federal funds and program implementation across 23 critical areas. These included financial management; maintenance; Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance; Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; procurement; Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE); legal and regulatory compliance; safety and security; and equal employment opportunity (EEO), according to MTS, which operates four Trolley lines and 92 bus routes in 10 cities and unincorporated areas of San Diego, Calif., and served more than 75 million riders in Fiscal Year 2024.
MTS said it has received more than $320 million in FTA funding over the past three years. This includes both formula and competitive funding that has been used for preventive maintenance and state of good repair projects, purchasing new Trolleys and buses, zero-emission bus infrastructure, and operating assistance.
“A perfect score from the FTA speaks volumes about our MTS team’s professionalism and commitment,” said Stephen Whitburn, MTS Board Chair and San Diego City Councilmember. “It confirms that MTS delivers high-quality service with integrity, efficiency, and accountability.”
“From our understanding it is very uncommon for a transit agency to receive a perfect score,” MTS CEO Sharon Cooney noted. “The FTA reviewers were very thoughtful and thorough. The review team spent multiple days on site at MTS and a significant number of hours reviewing our policies, practices and procedures. Our team worked hard to provide all the necessary documentation, and the outcome couldn’t have been better.”
Separately, the MTS Board in May signed off on a $473.1 million operating budget for FY 2026.
