fta bus safety & security program
DESCRIPTION
FTA BUS SAFETY & SECURITY PROGRAM 18 th NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RURAL PUBLIC AND INTERCITY BUS TRANSPORTATION Overview of TRANSIT BUS SAFETY, SECURITY, & EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. Program BACKGROUND. “How did the program evolve?” History of Bus Program NTSB Recommendations to US DOT - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security
FTA BUS SAFETY & SECURITY PROGRAM
18th NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RURAL PUBLIC AND INTERCITY
BUS TRANSPORTATION
Overview ofTRANSIT BUS SAFETY, SECURITY, &
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security
Program BACKGROUND
“How did the program evolve?”
History of Bus Program NTSB Recommendations to US DOT Initial Model Program Development Difficulties with Initial Model Program New Bus Program Initiative
Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security
Specific NTSB Recommendations to US DOT
Develop & implement oversight program to assess & ensure safety of transit bus operations that receive Federal funding (H-98-43)
Collect accurate, timely, sufficient data so thorough assessments can be made relating to transit bus safety (H-89-44)
Evaluate collected data to identify underlying causes of transit bus accidents which lead to identification of safety deficiencies at transit agencies (H-98-45)
Develop, in cooperation w/ APTA, CTAA, & AASHTO, model comprehensive safety program(s) & provide to all transit agencies (H-98-46)
Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security
Initial Model Program Development
Memorandum of Understanding for Model Program Development (H-98-46) was signed by FTA & APTA, CTAA, AASHTO
A Model Program was drafted which set forth “core” & “enhanced” program elements
Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security
Difficulties with Initial Model Program
Single model developed for all transit agencies regardless of size or operating characteristics & “one size” did not fit all
Core & enhanced elements of Model were difficult for transit systems to interpret & apply to their individual operating realities
Coordination with & involvement of State DOTs in addressing Model Program implementation for small urban & rural transit agencies was limited
Model Program never moved out of draft stage
Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security
New Bus Program Initiative
FTA re-birthed & re-energized its Transit Bus Model Program in 2005
Established Working Group of MOU partners & industry stakeholders to assist in Program design/development
Renamed program “FTA Transit Bus Safety and Security Program” since no single ‘model’ will be offered
Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security
New Program Initiative cont’d New Program tasked with providing voluntary
guidelines for safety, security & emergency preparedness that are flexible & beneficial to all size transit agencies
New Program is dynamic, ongoing & designed to be responsive to changing needs in the transit safety & security environment
New Program is focused on needs of rural & small urban transit while still embracing larger bus agency mission
New Bus Program Initiative
Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security
Program FOUNDATION
“What is the Program infrastructure?”
Scope of New Program Program Building Blocks Make up of Working Group Responsibilities of Working Group Program Guideline Elements Technical Assistance Info Database
Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security
Scope of New Bus Safety & Security Program
Establish Working Group of MOU partners & key stakeholders
Research bus transit industry safety, security & emergency preparedness needs
Develop guidelines for bus safety, security & emergency preparedness excellence
Identify safety/security gaps between guidelines & existing performance within small, medium, large transit operations
Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security
Program Scope cont’d Collect and/or develop technical assistance
information/materials to fill identified safety/security gaps
Create mechanisms for agencies to access technical assistance information
Monitor Bus Transit Safety & Security Program outcomes on ongoing basis & re-engineer needs, guidelines & technical assistance information as necessary
Scope of New Bus Safety & Security Program
Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security
Bus Program Building Blocks Utilize Working Group to assist in creation of
general template for safety, security & emergency preparedness activities involving transit systems of varying sizes & operating characteristics
Create set of comprehensive & flexible guidelines for elements that individual transit agencies should address in their safety, security & emergency preparedness programs
Create questionnaire for identifying best practices & gaps during voluntary on-site reviews of individual transit agency safety, security & emergency preparedness activities
Bus Program Building Blocks
Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security
Building Blocks cont’d Research existing transit operation materials
including policies, procedures, protocols, forms, handbooks, lesson plans, other technical assistance materials to identify useful templates
Utilize Working Group to provide input on technical assistance material review & selection
Develop new technical assistance materials to fill gaps identified when researching existing industry materials
Construct information technology mechanism to house technical assistance materials & allow access to materials by transit providers
Bus Program Building Blocks
Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security
Bus Safety & Security Guidelines
Elements of Bus Safety & Security Excellence
Management Equipment, Systems Operation and Maintenance Human Resources Safety Activities Security Activities Emergency / All-hazards Management
Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security
Program DELIVERY
“How is the Program accessed”
Voluntary On-site Reviews Self Assessment Tool Web Site Resource Library Workshops, Training & Outreach State DOTs Transit Associations
Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security
Voluntary On-Site Reviews Solicit volunteer transit agencies of varying sizes,
operating characteristics & locations to participate in on-site reviews
Conduct on-site review of volunteer agency safety, security & emergency preparedness activities using assessment questionnaire as catalyst for discussion
Develop post-site review report identifying agency best practices & gaps. Include recommendations for improvement.
Provide technical assistance materials to agency from Program resource library as may be appropriate / helpful
Voluntary On-site Reviews
Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security
Self Assessment Tool
Consistent with on-site review findings, define categories of transit agency activity in safety, security & emergency preparedness that lead to performance excellence
Create on-line assessment instrument, based on defined categories, for individual transit agencies to identify their safety, security & emergency preparedness best practices, gaps, needs.
Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security
Self Assessment Tool
Link post-self assessment identification of gaps/ needs to appropriate web site resource library materials to assist agency in filling those gaps / needs.
Encourage transit agencies, in lieu of on-site
review, to utilize this tool as mechanism for achievement of safety, security & emergency preparedness excellence.
Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security
Web Site Resource Library
Create web site for electronic access of technical assistance information of transit safety, security & emergency preparedness best practices.
Construct “log on” methodology to capture individual transit system operational characteristic baseline information.
Assign password for ongoing agency access to web site resource library.
Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security
Web Site Library cont’d Direct transit agencies to web site Self
Assessment Tool to complete a safety, security & emergency preparedness self assessment.
Link post-assessment results to technical assistance materials to assist filling gaps/needs identified during self assessment process.
As best practices/needs in transit industry evolve, continuously add to, update, develop Web Site Resource Library technical assistance materials, including policies, procedures, protocols, forms, handbooks, lesson plans, other appropriate / helpful information.
Web Site Resource Library
Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security
Workshops, Training and Outreach
Held State DOT Invitational Workshop. Other attendees - FTA headquarters/regional staff, Working Group members, other key industry stakeholders.
State regional workshops co-hosted by FTA & state DOTs to orient all state transit agencies on FTA Program.
Develop / deliver regional specialized training workshops for appropriate transit agency staff on high priority safety, security & emergency preparedness topics.
Aggressively pursue opportunities for outreach to transit industry on bus transit safety, security, emergency preparedness concerns
Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security
Beneficiaries of FTA Bus Program
Individual transit agenciesProgram provides mechanism to evaluate current safety, security & emergency preparedness activities; identify gaps/needs; access technical assistance to meet gaps/needs to improve mission accomplishment
Transit employeesProgram provides resources to assist in enhancement of individual technical skill sets & safety, security & emergency preparedness professionalism
Transit passengersProgram assists in decreasing operational safety risks to passengers while enhancing their security when using transit
Communities transit servesProgram emphasizes importance of transportation readiness to respond to community emergencies; provides tools for carrying out that response
Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security
Beneficiaries of FTA Bus Program
FTA and US Dept. of TransportationProgram meets NTSB recommendations & encourages achievement of safety, security & emergency preparedness excellence within framework of nationally standardized guidelines
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) & other Federal agencies
Program provides mechanism for FTA to partner with other federal agencies
State DOTsProgram provides guidance/support to state DOTs to assist in elevating level of safety, security & emergency preparedness of bus transit agencies in their state
Transit associationsProgram provides template for associations n designing safety, security & emergency preparedness conference /workshop presentations & technical assistance activities
Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security
STEPS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF FTA BUS SAFETY & SECURITY PROGRAM
EXCELLENCE ELEMENTS
Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security
Steps for Implementation
Using self-assessment instrument, evaluate agency safety, security & emergency preparedness:–Strengths–Gaps and needs
Prioritize gaps & needs to establish practical & flexible action plan based on:–Criticality of identified gaps / needs–Impact of gaps/needs on employees, passengers, community–Reality of hazards, risks, threats within operating environment–Limitations of budget, staffing, resources
Utilize FTA Program website to download resources that assist filling gaps & needs
Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security
Build action plan utilizing web resources that fill prioritized gaps & needs to create:– New plans, policies and procedures– New operating and maintenance protocols– New documentation templates– New employee training programs– New human resource management practices– New relationships with external stakeholders
Carry out action plan, monitor progress, reengineer approach, as may be necessary
Steps for Implementation
Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security
THANK YOU VERY MUCHAND
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK