FTA Publishes Updated National Public Transportation Safety Plan and Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans Regulation
On April 10, 2024, FTA published the updated National Public Transportation Safety Plan (National Safety Plan), in conjunction with the publication of the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans (PTASP) on April 11, 2024, to address new requirements in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, enacted as the Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act.
The updated National Safety Plan establishes performance measures for Agency Safety Plans (ASP), including measures for safety risk reduction programs, to improve the safety of public transportation systems that receive FTA financial assistance. Transit agencies and Safety Committees will set safety performance targets (SPTs) based on these measures to monitor and assess the safety performance of their public transportation systems.
The final PTASP rule addresses the following topics (among other updates):
- Role of the Accountable Executive
- Safety Committees (including composition, responsibilities, and procedures)
- Safety risk reduction programs
- Safety Performance Targets
- Methods for addressing exposure to infectious diseases through the Safety Management System (SMS) process
- Expanding Continuous Improvement requirements to small public transportation providers
- Competencies and training
Reminder to Comment: Rail Transit Roadway Worker Protection Proposed Rule
On March 25, 2024, FTA issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for public comment on proposed minimum safety standards for Rail Transit Roadway Worker Protection (RWP). The RWP NPRM will be open for a 60-day public comment period, closing on May 24, 2024. Submit your comments here.
Additionally, FTA published a video providing an overview of the RWP NPRM and instructions on submitting comments. You can watch the video here and contact FTASystemSafety@dot.gov with questions.
Last month, FTA launched a new resource webpage, Fatigue Resources for Transit Operations, dedicated to providing resources to support the transit community’s understanding of fatigue and fatigue-related issues in the workplace.
Featured resources include articles, videos, reports, webpages, guides and more, in the following categories related to fatigue: Understanding Sleep; Causes; Symptoms and Warning Signs; Effects; Transit Workers; Transit Agencies and Fatigue Risk Management Systems.
The webpage is designed for the transit community, including bus and rail transit workers (e.g., drivers, maintenance staff, etc.), agency management and other transit professionals who wish to better understand the effects of fatigue.
Safety training plays an important role in creating safer transit systems across America. The following list summarizes available safety training and resources offered through FTA and its partners:
|
