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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Transit Safety & Oversight (TSO)

What's New

FTA Issues Final Safety Management Inspection Report of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities

On August 31, 2022, FTA issued its final Safety Management Inspection Report of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities. FTA conducted the inspection and generated the report in response to a pattern of safety incidents at the MBTA. 

2022 Joint State Safety Oversight (SSO) and Rail Transit Agency (RTA) Workshop

Registration for the FTA’s Joint State Safety Oversight (SSO) and Rail Transit Agency (RTA) Hybrid Workshop is now open!  The SSO and RTA Workshop will be held from Tuesday, October 25, 2022 starting at 8:00 AM (check-in begins at 7:00 AM), concluding Thursday, October 27, 2022 at 2:45 PM. This year, the workshop will be hybrid, offering both an in-person and virtual option.  Registration closes on Friday, October 14 at 5:00pm EST.

The workshop brings SSO staff and RTA safety officers to participate in FTA-led sessions on rail transit system safety, oversight responsibilities, Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan technical assistance and other FTA safety policy updates. Contract staff that collaborate with the safety office are also encouraged to attend. If you have any questions, contact FTASafetyStakeholder@dot.gov.

Improving Safety for Pedestrians and Bicyclists Accessing Transit

FHWA's and FTA's Improving Safety for Pedestrians and Bicyclists Accessing Transit is intended to provide roadway designers and transit agency staff with an easy-to-use resource for improving pedestrian safety. The guide includes a variety of approaches to address common safety issues that are likely to arise near transit stations, bus stops and other places where transit (bus or rail) is operated. It provides references to publications, guides and other tools to identify pedestrian safety problems. Descriptions of engineering, education and enforcement programs that have been effectively applied by transit agencies are included as well.

Safety Training Schedule

FTA published the Fiscal Year 2023 Safety Training Schedule. Safety training plays an important role in supporting safer transit systems across America year-round by building and maintaining critical safety skills, processes and knowledge. Some of these courses my fulfill the Public Transportation Safety Certification Program regulation requirements.

President Biden, USDOT Announce More Than $573 Million in Available Funding from the New Railroad Crossing Elimination Program

On June 30, 2022, the Federal Railroad Administration issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announcing more than $573 million in available grant funding this year alone for the Railroad Crossing Elimination Program. This new competitive discretionary grant program – which will help improve safety, eliminate lengthy delays at railroad crossings in communities across the country and ultimately lower the costs of transporting goods, making them more affordable for American families – was created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Overview

FTA administers a national transit safety program and compliance oversight process to advance safe, reliable, and equitable transit service throughout the U.S. FTA's TSO Office helps make transit safer through policy development, hazard investigation, data collection, risk analysis, oversight programs and information sharing.

    Agency Safety Plan (ASP) Directory

    FTA published an Agency Safety Plan (ASP) Directory as part of the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) Technical Assistance Center (TAC) Resource Library. Transit agencies can use these publicly available ASPs as a resource to help with their own ASP.

    TSO Spotlight Newsletter

    Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan Technical Assistance Center (PTASP TAC)

    Mental Health Resources for the Transit Industry

    • FTA published Mental Health Resources to support the transit industry as we continue to overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Cybersecurity Resources for Transit Agencies

    • FTA published Cybersecurity Resources to support transit agencies during a time of unprecedented ransomware attacks targeting the transportation sector.

    Federal Mask Requirement for Public Transportation

    • As a result of a court order, effective April 18, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) January 29, 2021 Order requiring masks on public transportation conveyances and at transportation hubs is no longer in effect. Therefore, CDC will not enforce the Order. CDC continues to recommend that people wear masks in indoor public transportation settings at this time. In addition, effective immediately, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will not enforce its mask-related Security Directives. TSA is also withdrawing its Security Directive 1582/84-21-01E, which was issued on April 15, 2022, and was scheduled to take effect on April 19, 2022.

    Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

    Transit Advisory Committee for Safety

    Presentations & Webinars

    Additional Resources

    COVID-19 Information

    TSO Office Information