transit bus safety and security program federal transit administration 2010 mtap/scopt annual winter...

Transit Bus Safety and Security Program

Federal Transit Administration

2010 MTAP/SCOPT ANNUAL WINTER MEETINGSavannah, Georgia

Presented byReam Lazaro

PROGRAM BACKGROUNDAND

OVERVIEW

Slide 2

Federal Transit AdministrationTransit Bus Safety and Security Program

FTA Bus Program initially developed in response to NTSB recommendations to USDOT

Created as a result of MOU partnership with- FTA - APTA - CTAA - AASHTO Initial Model Program never left draft stage due to series of

issues / approaches requiring revision FTA revised / re-energized Transit Bus Safety Program in

2006 Newly revised Program focuses on small urban and rural

transit Based on philosophy of “one-size does not fit all” Program is voluntary and focused on providing technical

assistance in safety, security and emergency preparedness

MAJOR PROGRAM COMPONENTS


Working Group of Industry Stakeholders• Assist in providing Program direction “Roadmap for Excellence”• Provides specific guidance to transit agencies in building safety,

security and emergency preparedness infrastructure Orientation Seminars• Held in partnership with state DOTs• Provide guidance, technical assistance, opportunity for dialogue with

small urban and rural transit agencies Voluntary Onsite Reviews• Provide transit agencies with technical assistance for mission

achievement• Keeps Program firmly founded in operational reality Web site – www.bussafety.fta.dot.gov• Immediate access to safety / security technical assistance resources

http://www.bussafety.fta.dot.gov/

PROGRAM SUCCESSES

Slide 6


20 Seminars held in partnership with State DOTs as of 12/2010 Allowed face to face dialogue on safety, security, emergency

preparedness with over 600 participants from rural and small urban transit agencies

Participant evaluations of Seminar helpfulness• averaged a positive 4.7 out of a possible 5.0

ORIENTATION SEMINARS


VOLUNTARY ONSITE REVIEWS

34 transit systems from over 26 states reviewed as of 12/2010 Mid-sized urban, small urban, and rural agencies

Technical assistance materials delivered• Written report of recommendations for improvement• On average, provided over 20 documents per agency to support

recommendations

Participant evaluations as to helpfulness of review process• Averaged a positive 3.5 out of a possible 4.0


TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WEB SITE

Over 700 individual registered users representing over 500 transit agencies (as of 12/2010)

Users downloaded over 70,000 technical assistance documents (as of 12/2010)• Includes policies, procedures, protocols, forms, templates

Registered users receive timely information on critical safety, security and emergency preparedness issues via

blast emails web site postings

Slide 9

TRANSIT SYSTEM SAFETY & SECURITY CRITICAL CHALLENGES

ILLUMINATED THROUGH PROGRAM SEMINARS,

ONSITE REVIEWS & WEB SITE DOWNLOADS

Slide 10


MANAGEMENT

Formally designating individual(s) responsible for safety, security, training, and emergency preparedness activities

Developing system specific Safety Program Plans and/or Security Program Plans

Ensuring Mission Achievement and Business / Strategic Planning Processes are based on measurable safety/ security goals and objectives

Ensuring a formal methodology for gathering input on safety/security concerns from passengers and community

Creating a positive organizational safety culture with empowered front line employees


MANAGEMENT (cont’d)

Integrating safety / security concerns into facility design and vehicle procurement processes

Formally delineating and monitoring contractor activities related to safety, security, and training issues

Resolving question of insurance coverage and liability concerns when using transit vehicles in community emergency response

Building collaborative processes within Collective Bargaining structure to positively impact employee safety/security performance


OPERATIONS and MAINTENANCE Knowing where and how to access safety / security related

regulatory standards Ensuring fixed route service design can be operated on schedule

without encouraging unsafe driver performance Ensuring parameters of demand response / paratransit service

are supported by formal policies defining assistance level that are strictly enforced, e.g., curb-to-curb vs. door-to-door

Developing formal policies governing transport of children Formalizing specific policies covering such areas as oxygen

tanks, service animals, and passenger emergencies Developing a comprehensive vehicle maintenance plan Appropriately documenting preventive and corrective

maintenance


OPERATIONS and MAINTENANCE (cont’d) Ensuring drivers, including relief drivers, perform documented

vehicle inspections Clearly marking vehicles for identification from the ground

and roof decals if appropriate Ensuring vehicles are equipped with basic safety equipment

(fire extinguisher, web cutter, reflective triangles, first aid kit, bio-hazard kit, flashlight)

Ensuring maintenance shops are equipped with all basic elements of safety protection

Utilizing safety / security related performance measurements Ensuring existence of appropriate hazmat plan including

MSDS sheets and spill response if maintenance is in house Formal radio / cell phone policies to mitigate driver safety risk


HUMAN RESOURCES Creating driver, dispatcher, and supervisor Handbooks that

contain specific guidance for each of the 3 job functions on standard operating and emergency procedures

Becoming / remaining compliant with Drug & Alcohol program requirements including when new requirements added

Creating Workplace Violence policies and delivering training Addressing issue of periodic driver functional medical

examinations when not mandated through the CDL process Tracking / monitoring driver on-duty and driving hours in

reference to fatigue management concerns Formally structuring and documenting the employment

interview process


HUMAN RESOURCES (cont’d)

Developing incentive programs that award safe performance Periodically evaluating and documenting driver behind-the-

wheel performance Providing and documenting driver training on:

• security awareness and handling potentially dangerous passengers• responding to suspicious items on or off bus• emergency response procedures, such as for accidents and fires• securing non-traditional and oversize mobility devices• vehicle orientations on all vehicle prototypes required to operate Creating comprehensive individual training files that

document all training received both in classroom and on-vehicle including trainer and trainee signatures, hours, and dates of training


SAFETY ACTIVITIES

Holding periodic formal driver safety meetings with structured agenda and attendee sign in rosters

Developing a formal documented process for hazard identification and risk reduction including proactively soliciting employee input

Developing specific procedures for drivers to use in responding/reacting to emergency safety / security events on the bus

Developing a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) Providing training for managers/supervisors on formal

accident investigation


SAFETY ACTIVITIES (cont’d)

Creating a process for determining preventable vs. non-preventable accidents and issuing discipline

Formally capturing accident / incident near miss data for trending and service modification

Conducting and documenting periodic facility safety audits using a standardized OSHA type checklist

Conducting periodic and documented operational safety audits of contractors using a standardized checklist


SECURITY ACTIVITIES Conducting threat & vulnerability assessment as tool for risk

mitigation• Include input from emergency management / first responders Ensuring buses in revenue service are locked or kept under

driver control at all times Utilizing tools such as lighting, fencing, and cameras to

enhance security of vehicle storage areas Using tools such as cameras and controlled access systems

to enhance security of transit facilities Developing formal policy for revenue handling / transfer to

maximize fare and employee security Formally capturing security related near miss data for

trending and threat mitigation


EMERGENCY / ALL-HAZARDS MANAGEMENT Working in conjunction with local / regional emergency

management to specifically and realistically define transit’s role in emergency community response

Ensuring that appropriate transit staff are National Incident Management (NIMS) certified

Developing a post community emergency recovery strategy to guide system re-start

Developing and instituting an emergency information dissemination policy that guides key staff on information release

Developing emergency communication protocols for use between driver and dispatch in case of on-vehicle security related event

Slide 20


EMERGENCY / ALL-HAZARDS MANAGEMENT Ensuring transit has opportunity to participate in Local

Emergency Planning Committee meetings (LEPC) Building a strong working relationship with local / regional

emergency management and police / fire first responders Working with emergency management to assist in

identification and location of individuals with access and functional needs who may require evacuation assistance

Familiarizing police / fire first responders on transit vehicle operation, including lifts

Ensuring transit’s involvement in community emergency drills / simulations / exercises

Slide 21

This concludes the presentation on the:

FTA TRANSIT BUS SAFETY & SECURITY PROGRAM

THANK YOU

Slide 22

transit bus safety and security program federal transit administration 2010 mtap/scopt annual winter...

Documents

transit systems

program successes slide

program seminars

revised program

program background

critical safety

overview slide

emergency preparedness