2012 apta bus safety award

2012 APTA Bus Safety Award

VIA Metropolitan Transit 1

VIA Metropolitan Transit Authority (VIA) was created by San Antonio voters in 1977, but its lineage goes back to the original streetcar company providing service in the 1890s, when the first electric trolley was put in operation. Today, the VIA service area is comprised of 1,213 square miles within Bexar County and includes the City of San Antonio, 12 other incorporated cities, and the unincorporated areas of Bexar County. According to 2012 Census information, the Bexar County population is 1,714,773 and the City of San Antonio is ranked as the seventh largest city in the United States. VIA currently provides fixed route bus and demand response paratransit services within the 1,213 square mile service area. Buses operate seven days a week from 4 a.m. to 1 a.m. along 90 bus lines with more than 7,000 bus stops. VIA’s Safety Results VIA has always valued safety and, with the arrival of President/CEO Keith T. Parker (May 2009), reinforced that commitment by instituting a Comprehensive Safety Program in 2009-2010. The results of that program have been very positive. Total bus and van accidents (including minor fixed object accidents such as mirrors and curbs) declined from 1,118 in FY 2009 to 878 in FY 2011, a 21% reduction in just two years. The total accident rate declined from 3.98 in FY 2009 to 3.05 in FY 2011.

The preventable rate was 1.03 accidents per 100,000 miles in FY 2011 and reached a low of 0.48, excluding minor fixed objects (e.g., mirrors). See Attachment 2 for further accident data. While vehicular accidents declined sharply, customer accidents have also been significantly reduced. Public liability claim pay-outs have been reduced almost $880,000 (79%) on an annual basis since FY 2007. Since 2008 payouts have declined by $307,000 (57%), as shown on attachment 3.

The comprehensive safety program described in this application has resulted in a significant reduction in accidents and their resulting cost in injuries and dollars. All of the projects and programs are directly applicable to other transit agencies and can be implemented quickly and cost effectively. For a one-time cost of $75,000 and ongoing costs of $10,000 per year, VIA is realizing estimated annual savings of $450,000.



VIA’s Comprehensive Safety Program VIA’s Comprehensive Safety Program began in 2009, building on a solid foundation of local knowledge coupled with fresh ideas contributed by new staff with differing experiences. This paralleled the commission of an APTA Safety Peer Review in May 2010. The APTA peer group encouraged VIA to continue and strengthen its safety culture. During 2010, VIA organized its efforts around four major areas:

Communication and Recognition

Training and Education

Equipment and Infrastructure

Analysis and Investigation Communication and Recognition In order to reinforce the “Safety is Job One” message, VIA has instituted many daily communications geared towards creating a safe workplace and driving habits. Safety reminders and messages appear on:

signage on the walls,

inserts on table toppers,

powerpoint slides on mounted monitors,

the bus route assignment receipt and operator paystubs

custom woven floor mats

wind banner flags

Daily safety reminders reinforce VIA’s safety campaign (see Attachment 1 for more examples). After several incidents of bus operators not securing their vehicles properly where the bus rolled after the operator exited the bus, a “STEP” campaign was initiated with flyers promoting operators to always “STEP” prior to alighting the bus. The acronym stands for Steering Wheel Turned, Transmission in Neutral, End of Line Switch Engaged, and Park Break Engaged. “STEP” decals (Attachment 1) are also installed on the bus dash to remind operators of this practice. In FY 2010, VIA experienced five pedestrian accidents where a bus made contact with a pedestrian as the bus was making a left turn. An effort to reduce pedestrian accidents included the installation of a special reflective “Watch for Peds” warning stickers applied to the street side exterior mirror arm, in



addition to numerous campaigns reinforcing left turn safety. After application of this simple, but very noticeable warning, there were no pedestrian incidents involving left turns in FY 2011.

Operators are reminded every time they use their mirror to “Watch for Peds”. VIA’s improved communication campaigns do not only apply to its operators. VIA’s renewed safety campaign message is also extended to our customers. To reduce the likelihood of accidents related to slips, trips, and falls, safety messages were created internally and are now prominently posted at transit stations and have even made their way into the pocket schedules customers use. Two examples are at right. In order to create a safe environment for passengers, in September 2010 VIA instituted a Passenger Code of Conduct and list of Comfort and Safety Rules. This set of rules places expectations on passengers, bans certain types of behavior and allows operators with the assistance of transit police the ability to enforce rules and ultimately remove dangerous or disruptive persons from the bus. The Comfort and Safety Rules provide customers with a number of safety tips to avoid accidents in and around buses. Additionally, on board announcements in Spanish and English are created internally whenever a trend in a specific type of incident is identified. In 2009, the VIA Excellence Awards program was developed to recognize bus and van operators for their achievements in safety and other performance measures. A banquet is held twice each year where those operators that have maintained a high level of performance including no accidents, are recognized by the President/CEO and upper management. In addition to the banquet, these

VIA Excellence Award presented to operators in recognition of high achievement, including no

accidents.



operators receive high visibility awards such as special jackets and patches that serve to encourage other operators to strive to reach these goals. This program has been a great success with 24% more operators receiving this award recently compared to when the program began. Training and Education In July 2009, the VIA Board passed a zero tolerance policy restricting the use of any electronic device by VIA employees while operating a revenue vehicle.

An audible reminder of this policy is played inside buses whenever an operator starts his shift and logs into the bus.

This Electronic Device Policy has been highly effective and while violations and terminations occurred at the outset, there have been none in the last two years.

In 2010 the Smith System was introduced to enhance VIA’s training program. Prior to that time, existing VIA bus and van operators only received behind the wheel driving training when first hired or after an accident occurred. It was recognized that operators should receive training more often in order to promote safe driving habits. The Smith System was selected because it teaches defensive driving techniques comprehensively. VIA trainers were certified in the Smith System and conducted initial training for all its bus and van operators, followed by an on-going recertification program.

Beginning in 2011, operators involved in any preventable accident receive two to four hours of refresher training (prior to that time, refresher training was provided only to operators reaching a certain accident threshold). The training addresses standard safe practices, as well as dedicated time to address the act/behavior/decision(s) that led to their incident/accident. This includes revisiting the scene (if applicable), recreating the circumstance and evaluating the decision-making process used by the operator. The session emphasizes coaching methods to encourage the operator to demonstrate the behavior that would have prevented the incident/accident from occurring. The installation of video cameras and the use of actual accident footage has greatly reduced the uncertainty surrounding accident reporting and determination as well as provided a helpful training tool.

Actual video from accidents is utilized to provide counseling to drivers, determine if the accident is preventable and is used to retrain drivers after an accident.

Video footage is also played on a monitor in a common area traversed by VIA employees with a certain safety theme (for example: watch for cyclists/pedestrians, inclement weather, construction zones or passenger disputes). VIA operators can often be seen watching a video and then critiquing what the operator should have done to avoid the accident.

VIA operator receives bus assignment. The Smith System 5 keys are displayed above kiosk. Other safety reminders are on display on walls and

countertops.



Other Training and Education initiatives include:

A Video Route Trainer kiosk, which allows operators to visually see all 90+ bus routes to refresh their knowledge of turns, detours, and areas of caution. This helps new drivers familiarize themselves with the route and visualize what they might encounter before they get on the road.

A "PEDS" pedestrian safety awareness campaign, emphasizing safe driving in high pedestrian traffic and vehicles which attempt right turns in front of buses.

A “Downtown Safety Zone Program”. San Antonio has a preponderance of tourist traffic in its downtown operation environment when pedestrians and other motorists are frequently disoriented and do the unexpected. VIA vehicles are restricted to 20 mph whereas the posted city speed limit is 30 mph. Additional supervisors are assigned to monitor downtown safety compliance.

Equipment and Infrastructure Pedestrian safety is of utmost importance to VIA and creating the safest pedestrian environment ultimately affects the safety of our passengers and our overall ridership. While VIA does not construct sidewalks or roadway infrastructure, VIA planning staff regularly work in coordination with agency partners to improve pedestrian infrastructure and intersection design for the safest transit operation. VIA staff regularly coordinates with other local agencies when pavement markings are updated, bicycle lanes are added or crosswalk or stop bars are replaced. New transit centers are being designed to minimize the points at which bus and pedestrian traffic cross. The elimination of fixed objects along the roadway has been a recent focus and coordination with utility companies to remove or relocate poles has reduced accidents. The simple addition of a painted stripe close to bus shelters or bus stops indicating to the operator an area to avoid or how to best position the vehicle has reduced accidents as well. (See Attachment 4 for fixed object analysis example). The bus fleet is undergoing a re-design as part of a re-branding effort. The new paint scheme being implemented was deliberately chosen to increase visibility; buses are now primarily gray, when before they were primarily a dark blue. In addition, new DOT reflective red/white tape is being added to the back of the bus as a measure to reduce rear end accidents. Analysis and Investigation Every two weeks, management of the Operations and Safety Divisions meet to discuss recent trends in accidents. Members of the Training Department and Route Planning groups are also present and contribute to this group discussion to find ways to address potential. These meetings have proven to be successful, as witnessed by specific operator safety campaigns, fixed object hazards being removed and training procedures being changed to ensure safe driving practices. Within the last two years, VIA has hired an outside firm to conduct a Secret Shopper program twice each year. In each of the tests, after hundreds of bus and van trips, the Secret Shopper firm reported that VIA rated as the top performing transit system in the nation in areas including safe bus and van operation.

VIA operator utilizes the video route trainer kiosk

2012 apta bus safety award

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