TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Kelly Olivera, Assistant City Manager
FROM: Tyffany L. Neal, Transit DIrector
DATE: November 28, 2022
RE:
Title
Approval of FAST’s 2022 Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP)
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
All
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Goal 4: Desirable Place to Live, Work and Recreate
Objective D: To develop and maintain public transportation investments with high quality transit and airport services.
Executive Summary:
On July 19, 2018, FTA published the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) Final Rule which is intended to improve public transportation safety by guiding transit agencies to more effectively and proactively manage safety risks in their systems. As a recipient of FTA’s Section 5307 Grant Program, FAST was required to develop a safety plan that included the processes and procedures to implement Safety Management Systems (SMS).
On November 15, 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law amended FTA’s safety program by adding the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) requirements. These changes included the requirement that FAST establish a Safety Committee. This law requires that FAST address strategies to minimize exposure to infectious diseases, consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or State health authority guidelines.
The attached PTASP for FAST has been updated to ensure compliance with the final rule. Transit is requesting approval of the plan and authorization by City Council.
Background:
On November 15, 2021, Presidnet Biden signed into law the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which authorizes $108 billion over the next five (5) years for public transportation. This law will support federal public transportation programs in funding, as well as, enhance State Safety Oversight (SSO) programs by protecting transit workers and riders from injuries thus ensuring safe access to transit. Additional SSO updates will improve safety training, work to reduce assaults on vehicle operators, encourage development of transit agency safety plans and institute measures to reduce vehicular and pedestrian accidents involving transit buses.
FTA will also add content to the national public transportation safety plan - in consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services - to include safety measures for riders and transit workers during health emergencies. Recipients of Urbanized Area Formula grants will certify that agency safety plans are consistent with Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and state health authority guidelines to minimize exposure to infectious disease.
FTA’s rule allowed urban bus transit systems (similar to FAST) submit their own plan or submit their plan as part of a statewide plan being prepared by NCDOT. Staff elected to develop FAST’s plan as part of NCDOT’s plan in 2020.
The data and measures contained within FAST’s 2022 PTASP is based of calendar year 2021’s reportable safety data and reports to FTA’s National Transit Database (NTD). The update of FAST’s 2022 PTASP will allow FAST to improve its performance targets and expectations. In comparison to the safety data reported in FAST’s 2020 PTASP, FAST has made significant improvements in overall totals and percentages of reportable injuries, safety events and overall system reliability.
Issues/Analysis:
We would like to call to the Council’s attention that, prior to July 31, 2022, FAST established a Safety Committee comprised of frontline employees, with the first meeting held on August 18th, 2022. FAST is required to certify compliance of the updated PTASP as a result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law requirements (to remain eligible for receipt of Federal transit funds) by December 31, 2022. Failure to comply with a requirement of the rule subjects FAST to a range of FTA enforcement options (depending upon the circumstances) including the ineligibility of receipt of FTA grant funds.
Budget Impact:
No additional City funding is required.
Options:
1. Approve the 2022 Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP
2. Reject the proposed PTASP and provide direction to staff.
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends that Council move to approve the 2022 Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) as presented.
Attachments:
Proposed 2022 Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP)