REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JOE VARGAS, Interim Director
Department of Transportation
BY: BELINDA McMILLAN HAENER, Administrative Manager
Department of Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
RESOLUTION - Approval of Annual Update of the Public Transit Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) as required by the Federal Transit Administration
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve the annual update of the Department of Transportation/FAX Public Transit Agency Safety Plan (PTASP), as required by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and authorize the Director of Transportation or designee to execute and file all necessary documents on behalf of the City. This annual update is required by the FTA and the changes reflect new leadership within FAX and updated safety targets.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) published a final rule for Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans, as authorized by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). This final rule requires operators of public transportation systems that receive Federal financial assistance under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 53 to develop Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans (PTASP) based on the Safety Management System (SMS) approach. Operators of public transportation systems will be required to implement the safety plans and submit annual updates to the FTA. The development and implementation of safety plans will help ensure that public transportation systems are safe nationwide.
The PTASP was approved May 21, 2020, by the Fresno City Council. This is an update which reflects new leadership within the FAX department and updated safety targets.
BACKGROUND
On July 19, 2018, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) published the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) Final Rule (49 C.F.R. Part 673), which requires certain operators of public transportation systems that receive federal funds under FTA's Urbanized Area Formula Grants to develop safety plans that include the processes and procedures to implement Safety Management Systems (SMS).
Operators of public transportation systems are required to implement the safety plans by July 20, 2020, and provide annual updates to their plans to the FTA. The development, implementation, and updates of safety plans will help ensure that public transportation systems are safe, nationwide.
The public transportation industry remains among the safest surface transportation modes in terms of total reported safety events, fatalities, and injuries. Nonetheless, given public transportation service complexities, the condition of transit equipment and facilities, turnover in the transit workforce, and the quality of policies, procedures, and training, the public transportation industry remains vulnerable to catastrophic accidents.
This rule outlines requirements for Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans that would carry out explicit statutory mandates in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP- 21), which was reauthorized by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) and codified at 49 U.S.C. 5329 (see attached), to strengthen the safety of public transportation systems that receive Federal financial assistance under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 53.
This rule requires the adoption of SMS principles and methods; the development, certification, implementation, and update of Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans; and the coordination of Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan elements with other FTA programs and rules, as specified in 49 U.S.C. 5303, 5304, and 5329.
The Fresno Area Express (FAX) Public Transit Agency Safety Plan is made up of the elements required by the FTA that includes:
• Safety Performance Targets
• Safety Management Policy
• Safety Risk Management Strategies
• Safety Assurance
• Safety Promotion
The FAX Public Transit Agency Safety Plan was developed in collaboration with department leadership and safety staff, under guidance of the Federal Transit Administration. The FAX Public Transit Agency Safety Plan meets all FTA requirements for the size of the City’s transit system. The benefits of a Public Transit Agency Safety Plan include
• Improved transparency and accountability for safety management compliance
• Data-driven safety performance monitoring
• Transit system safety performance outcomes
• Maintaining eligibility for FTA funds and complying with the FAST Act.
The consequences of not having a FTA-compliant Public Transit Agency Safety Plan include, but are not limited to:
• Loss or reduction of FTA funding
• Higher safety risk liability (determined by accidents per 100,000 miles)
• Decreased transit system operational safety
• Higher vulnerability for a catastrophic event
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Approval of the annual update of the Department of Transportation/FAX Public Transit Agency Safety Plan (PTASP), is not a “project” for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because this resolution does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund from this request. Approval and implementation of the PTASP will help mitigate the loss of physical and human assets through injuries, accidents or other serious accidents.
Attachments:
Resolution
Public Transit Agency Safety Plan
49 CFR Part 673