Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans

The Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans (PTASP) regulation (49 CFR Part 673) requires certain operators of public transportation systems that receive federal funds under the FTA Urbanized Area Formula Grants to develop an Agency Safety Plan (ASP) that includes the processes and procedures to implement a Safety Management System (SMS), a comprehensive, collaborative, and systematic approach to managing safety. 

Technical Assistance 

The PTASP Technical Assistance Center (TAC) is available to help the transit industry meet PTASP requirements, with frequently asked questions, technical resources, webinars, voluntary reviews of draft ASPs, and a help desk. Email PTASP-TAC@dot.gov or call 877-827-7243 (9:00 am–8:00 pm ET, Monday–Friday). 

What's New

Proposed Changes to PTASP

FTA is proposing changes to PTASP that include revised requirements for ASPs, joint-labor management safety committees, cooperation with frontline transit worker representatives in the development of ASPs, safety risk reduction programs, safety performance targets, de-escalation training for certain transit workers, and addressing infectious diseases through the SMS process.  

• View the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM): Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans in the Federal Register
• View the presentation and recording from FTA's webinar on the PTASP NPRM. 
• Markup: Proposed changes to PTASP requirements at 49 CFR 673 
• Markup: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law changes to PTASP requirements at 49 U.S.C. 5329(d) 

Agency Safety Plan (ASP) Directory 

FTA published an ASP Directory that illustrates the various ways agencies throughout the transit industry are implementing the PTASP requirements. Transit agencies can use these publicly available ASPs as a resource to help with their own ASP and SMS implementation. 

PTASP Checklists 

• PTASP Checklist for Bus Transit (Version 3) now includes the current Bipartisan Infrastructure Law PTASP requirements at 49 U.S.C. § 5329(d). The checklist is intended for states and operators of public transportation systems that are required to draft an ASP in accordance with 49 CFR Part 673. Use of this checklist is voluntary. 
• PTASP Checklist for Rail Transit Agencies and State Safety Oversight Agencies (SSOA) (Version 3) now includes the current Bipartisan Infrastructure Law PTASP requirements at 49 U.S.C. § 5329(d). The checklist is intended for use by rail transit agencies that are required to draft an agency safety plan (ASP) in accordance with 49 CFR Part 673 and for the SSOAs that must review and approve the ASP per 49 CFR Part 674. Use of this checklist is voluntary. 

Key Milestones 

• 2022: FTA published a Dear Colleague Letter to inform the transit industry about Bipartisan Infrastructure Law changes to PTASP requirements. The new requirements apply to transit agencies with an ASP in place under the PTASP rule. 
• 2021: 100 percent of applicable transit agencies certified that they have ASPs in place to keep riders and transit workers safe on their transit systems. 
• 2019: The PTASP rule became effective. 
• 2018: FTA published the PTASP final rule. 

Who does PTASP apply to? 

The rule applies to all operators of public transportation systems that are recipients and sub-recipients of federal financial assistance under the Urbanized Area Formula Program (49 U.S.C. § 5307). ASPs must include safety performance targets, and must be updated and certified by the transit agency annually. 

FTA is deferring applicability of this rule for operators that only receive funds through FTA’s Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Formula Program (Section 5310) and/or Rural Area Formula Program (Section 5311). 

The rule does not apply to agencies that are subject to the safety jurisdiction of another federal agency, including passenger ferry operators regulated by the U.S. Coast Guard and rail operators regulated by the Federal Railroad Administration.