Transit Safety & Oversight (TSO)
Overview
FTA administers a national transit safety program and compliance oversight process to advance safe, reliable, and equitable transit service throughout the United States. The Office of Transit Safety and Oversight helps to increase transit safety through:
- Policy development
- Hazard investigation
- Data collection
- Risk analysis
- Oversight programs
- Information sharing
What's New
Virtual Public Roundtable on Bus Safety and Design Impacting Operator Visibility
FTA hosted a virtual public roundtable with bus manufacturers and the transit industry to discuss transit bus safety and elements in the design of transit buses that impact operator visibility, including mirror size and placement and A-pillar design.
Register for Spotlight on Rail Transit Safety Webinar
This webinar will discuss the importance of making safe choices when driving or walking near rail tracks and trains. FTA will provide an overview and participants will view a presentation from the New Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) at Rutgers University. The webinar will also feature a guest speaker from Hampton Roads Transit who will discuss their agency’s efforts to promote safe behaviors around their light rail system and the non-profit, Operation Lifesaver Inc., who will discuss safety education and outreach to transit riders and available transit agency resources.
- Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 2–3:00p.m. ET
FTA-FMCSA Rail Grade Crossing Safety Campaign
FTA is partnering with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to promote rail grade crossing safety. Our agencies developed a video to highlight best practices for motorists, transit riders and pedestrians to keep people safe where trains are present. #dontgetsideTRACKed
Recording Now Available: Updates to FTA’s Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program Webinar
The webinar provided an overview of the updates to the final Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program rule and reviewed frequently asked questions.
FTA Published Updates to the Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program
On August 14, 2024, FTA published the final updates to FTA's Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program (PTSCTP) regulation. The updates streamline the PTSCTP communication process and clarify voluntary PTSCTP participation and recertification training requirements.
Updates to the PTASP Regulation and National Safety Plan Webinar
FTA published the first major update to the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans (PTASP) regulation, which incorporates Bipartisan Infrastructure Law requirements to make transit safer for both transit workers and passengers. Concurrently, FTA published updates to the National Public Transportation Safety Plan (National Safety Plan), which is FTA’s primary guidance document to improve transit safety performance for systems that receive FTA funding. The webinar provided an overview of key changes to the PTASP regulation and the National Safety Plan, explained how PTASP requirements and the National Safety Plan correspond to each other and answered pre-submitted questions.
Updates to the PTASP Regulation and National Safety Plan Webinar
August 13, 2024 | Presentation | Recording
New FTA Technical Resources on Assaults on Transit Worker Data Reporting
FTA has published new technical resources that will clarify the new Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) requirements for expanded reporting of assaults on transit workers to the National Transit Database (NTD).
Access the resources below:
- Expanded Reporting Requirements Overview
- Full Reporters Guide to Reporting Data
- Reduced Reporters Guide to Reporting Data
FTA Suicide and Mental Health Crisis Intervention on Transit Webinar
On May 29, 2024, FTA hosted a webinar to discuss suicide prevention and mental health crisis intervention on transit. Guest speakers from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, San Francisco Suicide Prevention, Bay Area Rapid Transit and Utah Transit Authority shared available resources, experiences and lessons learned from success interventions. FTA updated its mental health webpage with new toolkits, handouts, articles and more to support transit workers struggling with mental health.
FTA Suicide and Mental Health Crisis Intervention on Transit Webinar
May 29, 2024 | Presentation | Recording
Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans and National Public Transportation Safety Plan Final Updates
On April 9, 2024, FTA published the first major update to the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans (PTASP) regulation along with the National Public Transportation Safety Plan. These updates are a part of FTA’s continuing efforts to improve transit safety performance on federally supported transit systems. PTASP is the first rule finalized by FTA under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law requirements to make transit safer for both transit workers and passengers.
Rail Transit Roadway Worker Protection Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
On Monday, March 25, 2024, FTA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register proposing minimum safety standards for Rail Transit Roadway Worker Protection (RWP). The public comment period closed on May 24, 2024.
- Rail Transit Roadway Worker Protection (RWP) NPRM
- Overview of the Rail Transit Roadway Worker Protection Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
April 2024
Presentation | Recording
Fatigue Resources for Transit Operations
FTA published a new Fatigue Resources for Transit Operations webpage dedicated to improving the transit community’s understanding of the effects of fatigue in the workplace.
De-Escalation Training Resource Directory
FTA published a new De-Escalation Training Resource Directory that contains resources to support the transit industry in developing, implementing and updating their training.
Transit Customer Assault Prevention Resources
To improve transit safety for riders, FTA recently published a new Transit Customer Assault Prevention webpage for transit agencies to provide more resources to help prevent and address crime in their systems.
Procurement System Review Program Training Module: Cost and Price Analysis
This e-learning course will provide recipients with an understanding of the fundamentals and best practices for procurement cost and price analysis as required by 2 CFR 200, the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), and other federal third-party contracting requirements. After taking this e-Learning course, recipients will be able to:
- define price and cost analysis;
- discuss key regulations and guidance pertaining to cost and price analysis;
- describe the importance of conducting an independent cost estimate;
- outline the process of completing an independent cost estimate;
- describe the steps of a price analysis versus a cost analysis;
- describe how to document cost analysis and negotiations; and
- compare types of contracts.
This e-Learning course aims to help mitigate procurement findings during State Management and Triennial Reviews.
Proposed General Directive: Required Actions Regarding Assaults on Transit Workers
FTA is initiating a significant step to reduce assaults on our nation’s transit workforce by issuing for public comment a proposed General Directive: Required Actions Regarding Assaults on Transit Workers. FTA is proposing to issue this General Directive to help transit agencies use their Safety Management System (SMS) processes to assess the risk associated with assaults on transit workers and to prioritize and develop mitigations.
- View the Federal Register Notice, Press Release and Proposed General Directive: Required Actions Regarding Assaults on Transit Workers
- Visit Using SMS to Protect Transit Workers from Assaults for technical assistance to support safety risk assessment for assaults on transit workers
State Safety Oversight Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
On November 15, 2023, FTA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register proposing updated requirements for the State Safety Oversight regulation. The public comment period closed on Thursday, February 15, 2024.
State Safety Oversight Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Overview Webinar
Thursday, November 30, 2023
Presentation | Recording
Transit Worker Hours of Service and Fatigue Risk Management Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
On Monday, October 30, FTA published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) in the Federal Register on Transit Worker Hours of Service and Fatigue Risk Management. The public comment period closed on January 29, 2024.
FTA Virtual Listening Session on the Transit Worker Hours of Service and Fatigue Risk Management ANPRM
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Presentation | Recording
Proposed Changes to PTSCTP Requirements
On October 26, 2023, FTA published a Federal Register Notice soliciting feedback on proposed updates to FTA’s Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program (PTSCTP) regulation. This proposed update to the regulation will build upon existing training requirements for safety professionals in rail transit agencies and ensure that the training curriculum is more responsive to evolving industry needs. The public comment period closed on December 26, 2023.
Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Webinar
Wednesday, November 8, 2023
Presentation | Recording