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
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 is open until January 16, 2024.
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 closes on Friday, December 29, 2023.
FTA will host a virtual listening session on the ANPRM on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at 2:30 PM ET. Register for the virtual listening session here.
Proposed Changes to PTSCTP Requirements at 49 CFR 672
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 will have 60 days – until December 26, 2023 – to submit comments on the proposed changes.
Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Webinar
Wednesday, November 8, 2023
Presentation | Recording
Using SMS to Protect Transit Workers from Assaults; Mitigate Infectious Disease and Respiratory Hazard Exposure
For technical assistance resources to support safety risk assessment for assaults on transit workers and for infectious disease/respiratory hazard exposure, visit FTA’s new pages on Using SMS to Protect Transit Workers from Assaults and Using SMS to Mitigate Infectious Disease and Respiratory Hazard Exposure.
2023 Cybersecurity Awareness Month
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month and in recognition, FTA is partnering with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in hosting a webinar. FTA and CISA will provide cybersecurity resources available to transit agencies, information on cyber hygiene, ransomware guidance and support to transit agencies available through CISA, followed by a Q&A session. Additional resources can be found on our Cybersecurity Resources for Transit Agencies page.
Cybersecurity Awareness for Transit Agencies Webinar
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Presentation | Recording
FTA Safety Advisory 23-1: Bus-to-Person Collisions
On September 19, 2023, FTA issued Safety Advisory 23-1: Bus-to-Person Collisions in the Federal Register to recommend that transit agencies consider mitigation strategies to reduce the likelihood and severity of bus collisions with pedestrians, bicyclists and micromobility users. Access FTA’s Bus-to-Person Collisions and Safety Risk Management websites for further information and resources.
Rail Grade Crossing Safety Resources for Transit Agencies
On September 18, 2023, FTA launched a new Rail Grade Crossing Safety website that curates helpful information and resources for the transit industry.
Fiscal Year 2024 Safety Training Schedule Now Available
The Safety Training Schedule for Fiscal Year 2024 is now publicly available. Safety training plays an important role in creating safer transit systems across America. The training schedule includes both instructor-led and self-guided courses, additional in-person offerings, and courses that meet Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program (PTSCTP) regulation training requirements.
2023 FTA Joint State Safety Oversight (SSO) and Rail Transit Agency (RTA) Workshop
The 2023 FTA Joint SSO and RTA Workshop brings together SSO staff and RTA safety officers to participate in FTA-led sessions on rail transit system safety, oversight responsibilities, and other FTA safety policy and program updates. With most sessions in-person and select sessions virtual, this workshop will focus on effective working relationships among the SSOs, RTAs, and FTA. FTA is hosting this workshop on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, from 8:00 AM–4:30 PM Central Time, Wednesday, November 15, 2023, from 8:00 AM–4:30 PM Central Time and Thursday, November 16, 2023, from 8:00 AM–4:30 PM Central Time.
National Roadway Safety Strategy
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS) outlines the Department’s comprehensive approach to reversing the rise in traffic fatalities and serious injuries on the nation’s highways, roads, and streets. The NRSS follows through on the Department’s commitment to safety through priority actions that target the most significant and urgent problems in roadway safety. Click here for more information about FTA’s involvement in the NRSS Call to Action.
National Public Transportation Safety Plan
On May 31, 2023, FTA published a Federal Register Notice regarding proposed updates to FTA’s National Public Transportation Safety Plan (NSP). The NSP serves as FTA’s primary guidance document to improve transit safety performance. The public comment period closed on July 31, 2023.
Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, FTA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register proposing new requirements for the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans (PTASP) regulation. The public comment period closed on June 26, 2023.
- FTA hosted a webinar on Wednesday, May 10 from 2:00 pm–3:00 pm ET to discuss proposed new requirements for the PTASP regulation and how the public can submit comments to the Federal Register on the proposed changes.
National Transit Database
On February 23, 2023, FTA finalized changes to the National Transit Database (NTD) safety and security reporting requirements. FTA has adopted two significant changes to data collected on transit worker assaults and bus impact fatalities.
USDOT Announces Appointments to the 2022–2024 Transit Advisory Committee for Safety
On December 15, 2022, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced the appointment of 24 members to the FTA’s 2022–2024 Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS).
TRACS comprises a diverse cross section of the transit industry, including large and small bus and rail operators, state safety oversight agencies, labor unions, academia, and other industry representatives. Members serve a two-year appointment.
The committee provides information, advice, and recommendations on transit safety and other issues as determined by the Secretary of Transportation and the FTA Administrator.
FTA Issues Safety Advisory 22-4
On December 7, 2022, FTA published a Federal Register Notice to alert transit agencies of the issuance of Safety Advisory 22-4: Suicide Prevention Signage on Public Transit. The advisory encourages transit agencies to implement, update, or expand suicide prevention signage and messaging campaigns that apply best practices for reducing suicide attempts.
FTA Issues Safety Advisory 22-3
On November 28, 2022, FTA published a Federal Register Notice to alert transit agencies of the issuance of Safety Advisory 22-3: Steering Gearbox Bolt Failure. The advisory recommends that transit agencies identify Nova Bus models manufactured in 2018 or later that use a Bosch steering gearbox affixed to the vehicle frame through a mounting plate and perform inspections, as recommended by Nova Bus. In addition, FTA recommends that any transit agency that identifies buses equipped with this mounting plate assembly submit a summary of their findings to FTA.
FTA Issues Reminder on Compliance Date for Safety Committee Approval of Updated Agency Safety Plan
On November 9, 2022, FTA issued a reminder to public transportation agencies that receive Section 5307 funding and serve urbanized areas with a population of 200,000 or more (large urbanized areas) to remind them of the December 31, 2022, compliance date for safety committee review and approval of their updated Agency Safety Plan (ASP). The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law requires that applicable agencies establish a safety committee that must have an equal number of frontline employee representatives and management representatives, and that the safety committee approve the agency’s ASP and any updates to the ASP. As stated in the February 2022 Dear Colleague Letter, if a transit agency is not yet compliant with the new PTASP requirements, the FTA expects the safety committee to approve any updates to the agency’s ASP, incorporating applicable PTASP requirements in Section 5329(d), by December 31, 2022.
FTA Issues Special Directives on Risk-Based Inspection Programs to State Safety Oversight Agencies
On October 21, 2022, FTA issued special directives to all State Safety Oversight Agencies (SSOA), which oversee safety at rail transit systems, to develop and implement a risk-based inspection program in accordance with changes to FTA’s Public Transportation Safety Program as required by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Risk-based inspection programs use qualitative and quantitative data analysis to inform ongoing inspection activities and are designed to prioritize inspections to address safety concerns and hazards associated with the highest levels of safety risk.