Federal compliance for transit - Transit safety - Bus

*On April 23, 2020, the Federal Transit Administration issued a Notice of Enforcement Discretion indicating that they will refrain from taking enforcement against transit providers who cannot complete their Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) by the regulatory deadline of July 20, 2020. This effectively extends the PTASP compliance deadline to December 31, 2020.

Under federal law, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requires that recipients of federal Urbanized Area Formula (§ 5307) funds must develop and certify a PTASP by no later than July 20, 2020.* By that deadline, all qualifying transit providers must have a written plan meeting FTA requirements under the PTASP rule, 49 CFR Part 673. Under Part 673, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) will draft the PTASP for small public transportation providers – those operating fewer than 100 vehicles at peak service hours – unless that provider chooses to draft its own PTASP.

FTA has exempted providers that:

1. Do not receive § 5307 funds, and
2. Only receive funds through either (or both):
• § 5310 – Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Formula Program
• § 5311 – Rural Area Formula Program

At minimum, a small transit provider’s PTASP must include the following:

1. Safety performance measures and targets
• FTA has identified seven (7) performance measures at minimum
2. The signature of a person identified as an Accountable Executive
• The person ultimately responsible for a provider’s safety performance
3. The approval of a person or entity that functions as a transit system Board of Directors (or equivalent authority)
4. An annual certification process to demonstrate a compliant PTASP is in place

Transit providers should seek to have a compliant PTASP by July 20, 2020, and must have a compliant PTASP by no later than December 31, 2020.

The WisDOT Public and Specialized Transit Section has developed a PTASP template to meet its requirements under Part 673 and to assist small transit providers in complying with their requirements. See links below for the template and supplemental materials.

Transit providers are strongly encouraged to begin activities as soon as possible to meet all PTASP requirements.

PTASP resources

• WisDOT Small Provider PTASP Template
• WisDOT PTASP Template Instructions
• WisDOT PTASP Template Section Guides
• Section 1 Guide – Instructions and Samples
• Section 2 Guide – Safety Risk Management Checklist
• Section 3 Guide – Safety Performance Measures
• Section 4 – see FTA’s “Safety Performance Targets Guide”
• Appendices (This zipped file includes the following appendices)
• Appendix A – Staff Safety Roles and Responsibilities
• Appendix B – Safety Assessment and System Review
• Appendix C – Facility Safety and Security Assessment
• Appendix D – SRM Matrix and Workbook
• Appendix E – Hazard Assessment Log
• Appendix F – Prioritized Safety Risk Log
• Appendix G – Safety Performance Matrix
• Appendix H – Safety Performance Outline
• WisDOT PTASP webcast (recorded 12/17/2019)
• WisDOT PTASP/SMS PowerPoint presentation

Other resources

• FTA’s PTASP Technical Assistance Center (PTASP-TAC)
• Public Transportation Safety Program Final Rule (49 CFR Part 670)
• Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan Final Rule (49 CFR Part 673)
• FTA safety management system (SMS) information
• Overview
• ​Getting Ready for SMS | Guide to the SMS Framework for Bus Transit Safety
• The Role of the Transit Agency’s CSO/SMS Executive and Key Staff
• Transit Safety Management and Performance Measurement – Volume 1: Guidebook
• Safety Performance Targets Guide
• Fact Sheets
• Safety Management Policy
• Safety Risk Management
• Safety Assurance (webinar)
• Safety Promotion
  

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