FTA BUS SAFETY & SECURITY PROGRAM

1. FTA BUS SAFETY & SECURITY PROGRAM 18th NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RURAL PUBLIC AND INTERCITY BUS TRANSPORTATION Overview of TRANSIT BUS SAFETY, SECURITY, & EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

2. Program BACKGROUND “How did the program evolve?” • History of Bus Program • NTSB Recommendations to US DOT • Initial Model Program Development • Difficulties with Initial Model Program • New Bus Program Initiative

3. Specific NTSB Recommendations to US DOT • Develop & implement oversight program to assess & ensure safety of transit bus operations that receive Federal funding (H-98-43) • Collect accurate, timely, sufficient data so thorough assessments can be made relating to transit bus safety (H-89-44) • Evaluate collected data to identify underlying causes of transit bus accidents which lead to identification of safety deficiencies at transit agencies (H-98-45) • Develop, in cooperation w/ APTA, CTAA, & AASHTO, model comprehensive safety program(s) & provide to all transit agencies (H-98-46)

4. Initial Model Program Development • Memorandum of Understanding for Model Program Development (H-98-46) was signed by FTA & APTA, CTAA, AASHTO • A Model Program was drafted which set forth “core” & “enhanced” program elements

5. Difficulties with Initial Model Program • Single model developed for all transit agencies regardless of size or operating characteristics & “one size” did not fit all • Core & enhanced elements of Model were difficult for transit systems to interpret & apply to their individual operating realities • Coordination with & involvement of State DOTs in addressing Model Program implementation for small urban & rural transit agencies was limited • Model Program never moved out of draft stage

6. New Bus Program Initiative • FTA re-birthed & re-energized its Transit Bus Model Program in 2005 • Established Working Group of MOU partners & industry stakeholders to assist in Program design/development • Renamed program “FTA Transit Bus Safety and Security Program” since no single ‘model’ will be offered

7. New Program Initiative cont’d New Bus Program Initiative • New Program tasked with providing voluntary guidelines for safety, security & emergency preparedness that are flexible & beneficial to all size transit agencies • New Program is dynamic, ongoing & designed to be responsive to changing needs in the transit safety & security environment • New Program is focused on needs of rural & small urban transit while still embracing larger bus agency mission

8. Program FOUNDATION “What is the Program infrastructure?” • Scope of New Program • Program Building Blocks • Make up of Working Group • Responsibilities of Working Group • Program Guideline Elements • Technical Assistance Info Database

9. Scope of New Bus Safety & Security Program • Establish Working Group of MOU partners & key stakeholders • Research bus transit industry safety, security & emergency preparedness needs • Develop guidelines for bus safety, security & emergency preparedness excellence • Identify safety/security gaps between guidelines & existing performance within small, medium, large transit operations

10. Scope of New Bus Safety & Security Program Program Scope cont’d • Collect and/or develop technical assistance information/materials to fill identified safety/security gaps • Create mechanisms for agencies to access technical assistance information • Monitor Bus Transit Safety & Security Program outcomes on ongoing basis & re-engineer needs, guidelines & technical assistance information as necessary

11. Bus Program Building Blocks Bus Program Building Blocks • Utilize Working Group to assist in creation of general template for safety, security & emergency preparedness activities involving transit systems of varying sizes & operating characteristics • Create set of comprehensive & flexible guidelines for elements that individual transit agencies should address in their safety, security & emergency preparedness programs • Create questionnaire for identifying best practices & gaps during voluntary on-site reviews of individual transit agency safety, security & emergency preparedness activities

12. Bus Program Building Blocks Building Blocks cont’d • Research existing transit operation materials including policies, procedures, protocols, forms, handbooks, lesson plans, other technical assistance materials to identify useful templates • Utilize Working Group to provide input on technical assistance material review & selection • Develop new technical assistance materials to fill gaps identified when researching existing industry materials • Construct information technology mechanism to house technical assistance materials & allow access to materials by transit providers

13. Bus Safety & Security Guidelines Elements of Bus Safety & Security Excellence • Management • Equipment, Systems Operation and Maintenance • Human Resources • Safety Activities • Security Activities • Emergency / All-hazards Management

14. Program DELIVERY “How is the Program accessed” • Voluntary On-site Reviews • Self Assessment Tool • Web Site Resource Library • Workshops, Training & Outreach • State DOTs • Transit Associations

15. Voluntary On-Site Reviews Voluntary On-site Reviews • Solicit volunteer transit agencies of varying sizes, operating characteristics & locations to participate in on-site reviews • Conduct on-site review of volunteer agency safety, security & emergency preparedness activities using assessment questionnaire as catalyst for discussion • Develop post-site review report identifying agency best practices & gaps. Include recommendations for improvement. • Provide technical assistance materials to agency from Program resource library as may be appropriate / helpful

16. Self Assessment Tool • Consistent with on-site review findings, define categories of transit agency activity in safety, security & emergency preparedness that lead to performance excellence • Create on-line assessment instrument, based on defined categories, for individual transit agencies to identify their safety, security & emergency preparedness best practices, gaps, needs.

17. Self Assessment Tool • Link post-self assessment identification of gaps/ needs to appropriate web site resource library materials to assist agency in filling those gaps / needs. • Encourage transit agencies, in lieu of on-site review, to utilize this tool as mechanism for achievement of safety, security & emergency preparedness excellence.

18. Web Site Resource Library • Create web site for electronic access of technical assistance information of transit safety, security & emergency preparedness best practices. • Construct “log on” methodology to capture individual transit system operational characteristic baseline information. • Assign password for ongoing agency access to web site resource library.

19. Web Site Resource Library Web Site Library cont’d • Direct transit agencies to web site Self Assessment Tool to complete a safety, security & emergency preparedness self assessment. • Link post-assessment results to technical assistance materials to assist filling gaps/needs identified during self assessment process. • As best practices/needs in transit industry evolve, continuously add to, update, develop Web Site Resource Library technical assistance materials, including policies, procedures, protocols, forms, handbooks, lesson plans, other appropriate / helpful information.

20. Workshops, Training and Outreach • Held State DOT Invitational Workshop. Other attendees - FTA headquarters/regional staff, Working Group members, other key industry stakeholders. • State regional workshops co-hosted by FTA & state DOTs to orient all state transit agencies on FTA Program. • Develop / deliver regional specialized training workshops for appropriate transit agency staff on high priority safety, security & emergency preparedness topics. • Aggressively pursue opportunities for outreach to transit industry on bus transit safety, security, emergency preparedness concerns

21. Beneficiaries of FTA Bus Program • Individual transit agencies Program provides mechanism to evaluate current safety, security & emergency preparedness activities; identify gaps/needs; access technical assistance to meet gaps/needs to improve mission accomplishment • Transit employees Program provides resources to assist in enhancement of individual technical skill sets & safety, security & emergency preparedness professionalism • Transit passengers Program assists in decreasing operational safety risks to passengers while enhancing their security when using transit • Communities transit serves Program emphasizes importance of transportation readiness to respond to community emergencies; provides tools for carrying out that response

22. Beneficiaries of FTA Bus Program • FTA and US Dept. of Transportation Program meets NTSB recommendations & encourages achievement of safety, security & emergency preparedness excellence within framework of nationally standardized guidelines • Department of Homeland Security (DHS) & other Federal agencies Program provides mechanism for FTA to partner with other federal agencies • State DOTs Program provides guidance/support to state DOTs to assist in elevating level of safety, security & emergency preparedness of bus transit agencies in their state • Transit associations Program provides template for associations n designing safety, security & emergency preparedness conference /workshop presentations & technical assistance activities

23. STEPS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF FTA BUS SAFETY & SECURITY PROGRAM EXCELLENCE ELEMENTS

24. Steps for Implementation • Using self-assessment instrument, evaluate agency safety, security & emergency preparedness: • Strengths • Gaps and needs • Prioritize gaps & needs to establish practical & flexible action plan based on: • Criticality of identified gaps / needs • Impact of gaps/needs on employees, passengers, community • Reality of hazards, risks, threats within operating environment • Limitations of budget, staffing, resources • Utilize FTA Program website to download resources that assist filling gaps & needs

25. Steps for Implementation • Build action plan utilizing web resources that fill prioritized gaps & needs to create: • New plans, policies and procedures • New operating and maintenance protocols • New documentation templates • New employee training programs • New human resource management practices • New relationships with external stakeholders • Carry out action plan, monitor progress, reengineer approach, as may be necessary

26. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK