The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has proposed an updated version of the National Public Transportation Safety Plan. Reauthorized under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the plan creates a blueprint for transit agencies to adopt stronger safety measures. The draft of the updated safety plan was published May 31 in the Federal Register for a 60-day comment period, concluding on July 31. FTA encourages the public to submit comments on the proposed changes.
"Safety remains our top priority, and this updated National Public Transportation Safety Program will help make a safe transportation option even safer," said U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Deputy Secretary Polly Trottenberg. "This updated guidance incorporates new requirements in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and we look forward to working closely with transit agencies across the country on further improving safety for workers and riders."
The National Public Transportation Safety Plan is FTA's primary guidance document to improve transit safety performance on all federally supported public transportation systems and includes best practices, tools, technical assistance, voluntary standards and other resources. FTA’s proposed updates align with USDOT’s goal to make transportation systems safer for all people. The proposed updates would replace the original plan published in January 2017.
"As millions of Americans take transit to jobs, schools, and other daily activities, we must continue to ensure safety remains the top priority," said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. "These proposed updates enhance FTA’s safety framework, as future safety-related rules, regulations and guidance will be informed by the National Public Transportation Safety Plan."
The National Public Transportation Safety Plan lays out a performance-based approach to reduce injuries and fatalities on transit systems under FTA's safety jurisdiction. The plan also supports the department’s long-term goal of reaching zero fatalities on America’s roadways as part of the National Roadway Safety Strategy by adding safety performance criteria for vehicular collisions and providing voluntary standards for bus transit.
In the updated version of the National Public Transportation Safety Plan, FTA proposes several performance measures, including strategies to reduce the incidents and rates of vehicle collisions, transit worker injuries and fatalities and transit worker assaults. FTA also proposes new performance measures for Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan risk reduction programs, which will be used by joint labor-management safety committees to set targets and assess the effectiveness of safety mitigation strategies.
