Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

TRANSIT BUS SAFETY AND SECURITY PROGRAM

Mike FlanigonFederal Transit Administration

U.S./ France Workshop on the Role of Public Transport in Creating Livable and Sustainable

Communities January 28, 2011

Safety in Public Transport in the U.S

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

FTA – Overview

FTA provides financial assistance to develop new transit systems and to improve, maintain, and operate existing systems.– FTA has about 500 employees nationwide, divided

between a Headquarters Office and 10 Regional Offices.– FTA disburses more than $10 billion annually in federal

funding.– FTA has very limited safety regulatory authority

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

Public Transportation in U.S.

Over 10 billion passenger trips provided in 2008 by:– ~ 600 public transit in urban areas (over 50,000)– ~ 1,200 rural transit providers– ~ 3,700 specialized services organizations

Public transportation in the U.S. is a $45 billion industry– FTA grants provide approximately 20 percent of pubic

transportation funds. – The majority of funding comes from State and Local

governments (54 percent).– Fare revenues comprise roughly 26 percent of funds.

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

Transit Safety in the U.S.

U.S. Transit has a safe record when compared to other modes of transportation

Average Rate of Fatality per 100 Million Miles Traveled,

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

Aging systems and equipment require more maintenance– Projected $50 billion required to restore our 7

largest rail transit systems to state of good repair, including $11 billion for WMATA in Washington D.C.

Major Challenges Ahead…

Total backlog of almost $80 billion to bring transit assets into a state of good repair

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

Safety Must Be A Major Focus

A series of major accidents in Washington, San Francisco, Boston and elsewhere have captured public and media attention

2003-2008 derailment and collision rates up Rail transit agencies are under the magnifying

glassTransit cannot fulfill its mission if the public

does not perceive it as safeTransit employees cannot effectively

maintain systems and equipment if they are not safe on the job

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

Our Mission ?

“Continuous improvement of safety and security in the public transportation industry”

Achieved through:– Regulation and Oversight– Technical Assistance and Training– Policy development

Office of Safety and Security

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

Coordination and Collaboration

Federal Partners– FRA, NTSB, GAO, FHWA, FMCSA, NHTSA, DHS (including

TSA and FEMA’s National Preparedness Directorate)

State Partners Industry Associations

– APTA, CTAA, and AASHTO

Training and Research Agencies– TSI, NTI, National RTAP Program, TRB, and University

Transportation Centers

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

Regulations

Federal versus StateFTA

– State Safety Oversight (49 CFR Part 659)– Drug and Alcohol Testing

FRA – Commuter and private rail, freight railFMCSA – private busStates can regulate public transportation

– Some states regulate public bus safety (e.g., New York and Florida)

– Federal law mandates that states regulate safety on public rail transit systems

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

Regulatory Initiatives

Proposed Congressional legislation :

– Mikulski/Edwards proposed legislation S1506/HR3338

Provides the U.S. DOT Secretary with the authority to address NTSB recommendations to FTA

– Secretary LaHood submitted a legislative proposal to Congress

Obama Administration's Public Transportation Safety Program Act of 2009.

– Now introduced in both House and Senate

Public Transportation Safety Program Act of 2010 (H.R. 4643 and S. 3015)

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

Technical Assistance

Guidelines for Regulatory Programs APTA Transit Standards Program (www.apta.com) Bus Transit Safety and Security Program

(bussafety.fta.dot.gov) Safety and Security technical assistance (transit-

safety.fta.dot.gov) Safety-Security Roundtables (partner with DHS) State Oversight and Drug Alcohol program

meetings Safety-Security Training

– National Transit Institute (NTI) - http://www.ntionline.com/ – Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) -

http://www.tsi.dot.gov

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

Transit Bus Safety and Security Program

Program based on objectives designed to improve safety and security for ~5,000 transit bus agencies nationwide– Emphasizes coordination and collaboration

with stakeholders (APTA, CTAA, AASHTO)– Promotes an approach of incremental

progress along a maturity grid– Strives for ongoing improvement through

the advancement of technical assistance that is practical, effective and targeted

– First phase targeted at small urban and rural agencies

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

Policy and Regulatory Development

Transit Rail Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS)

– 21 members affiliated with:Transit agenciesUnionsIndustry AssociationResearch bodies

– Current tasks:Identify best safety planning modelIdentify characteristics of optimum state

oversight agencyReport back in April

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

QUESTIONS ?

Merci Beaucoup!