July 2021

The Federal Transit Administration’s Transit Safety and Oversight Spotlight is a monthly newsletter about safety and oversight topics, events, training and guidance that affect the public transportation industry.

Read the July 2021 issue, share the newsletter with colleagues and send comments to FTASafetyStakeholder@dot.gov.

COVID-19 Resources and Updates

NEW: COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Guide and Toolkit—Provides
information and communication resources for transit agencies on how to build vaccine confidence among personnel.

COVID-19 Recovery Practices in Transit—Provides web links to practices implemented by transit systems worldwide in response to COVID-19, updated monthly.

COVID-19 Resource Tool—A compilation of Federal COVID-19 guidance and recommendations, updated weekly.

FAQs from FTA Grantees Regarding COVID-19—Provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding COVID-19 relief funding and other requirements.

Federal Mask Requirement for Transit—Provides links to resources, stakeholder call materials, FAQs and updated information on the Federal mask requirement.

Upcoming Events and Webinars

FTA Request for Information on Transit Safety Concerns Webinar
July 26, 2021 | 1:00 pm–1:30 pm ET

FTA Key Procurement Deficiencies Webinar #3
July 27, 2021 | 3:00 pm–4:15 pm ET

PTASP Webinar: Safety Event Investigation in an SMS
July 28, 2021 | 2:00 pm–3:30 pm ET

FTA Key Procurement Deficiencies Webinar #4
August 3, 2021 | 1:00 pm–2:15 pm ET

Upcoming Safety Training

USDOT’s Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) is increasing its delivery of virtual classes by adding more course delivery dates and offering Safety Management Systems (SMS) Principles for Transit as a virtual course. The Fiscal Year 2021 training schedule is available on FTA's website.

Featured Articles

FTA Transit COVID-19 Response Program Information Collection Update
The FTA Transit COVID-19 Response Program Information Collection captures COVID-19 related data monthly from over 2,100 transit providers. May submissions captured data through May 31, 2021, were due on June 15, 2021.

Now Available: Transit Workers Vaccine Confidence Toolkit
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) launched a toolkit to provide current information from CDC, DOT and OSHA on COVID-related workplace policies and regulations, vaccine availability, and other
preventive measures of relevance to transit workers.

FTA Announces Request for Information on High-Priority Transit Safety Concerns
FTA recently announced a Request for Information to receive input from the public on data and information available to inform FTA’s identification of high-priority safety matters relevant to the transit industry. Comments are due by August 16, 2021.

FTA Enhanced Transit Safety and Crime Prevention Initiative
To help ensure the continued safety of our nation’s public transit systems, FTA launched the Enhanced Transit Safety and Crime Prevention Initiative to provide information and resources to help transit agencies address and prevent crime on their systems and protect transit workers and riders.

FTA Bus Agency Safety Plan Workshop Testimonials
In May and June, FTA hosted four virtual Bus Agency Safety Plan (ASP) Implementation Workshops to help participants plan and practice implementing elements of their ASPs. A recording of the training and participant workbook are available on the FTA website.

FTA Publishes Research on Platform Track Intrusion Detection System
Evaluation for Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
To improve roadway worker safety, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, in partnership with Honeywell International, Inc., implemented a research project to demonstrate an innovative Platform Track Intrusion Detection System.

FTA Employee Spotlight: Dr. Melonie Barrington
Each month we highlight an FTA Safety and Oversight Employee, so you can learn more about what we do and who we are.