Standards Development Program

What's New

• On November 22, 2022, FTA released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to provide up to $3 million for a cooperative agreement to an organization to perform a detailed industry assessment and develop standards, best practices, guidance, and tools in safety and other areas to address industry needs and demands. The NOFO builds on a prior FTA program that developed reports consisting of gap analyses and recommendations for transit standards development. Project proposals are due on February 6, 2023.
• FTA hosted a webinar on Thursday, December 15, 2022. View the presentation and FAQs.

Overview

The Standards Development Program (SDP) seeks to develop meaningful transit standards, including minimum performance standards and best practices for efficient, reliable and safe operation of public transportation systems, both rail and non-rail modes.

The goals of FTA’s SDP are to:

• Determine the need to revise or expand existing transit standards due to innovation and technological advancements
• Determine the need for new transit standards in areas where standards are lacking or where there are gaps within existing standards
• Work with the transit industry to develop and implement safety and other standards and best practices

The primary objectives of the SDP are to:

• Conduct background literature review, data gathering and analysis to determine gaps and needs for standards development
• Work with industry stakeholders to inform the standard development process, including associated transit research reports and findings
• Work with Standard Development Organizations (SDOs) to develop guidance documents, standards, or recommended practices for voluntary adoption by the transit industry

Eligible Activities

In accordance with Federal public transportation law (U.S.C. § 5314(a)(1)(B)), activities may include technical assistance and the development of voluntary and consensus-based standards and best practices by the public transportation industry. This includes standards and best practices for safety, fare collection, intelligent transportation systems, accessibility, procurement, security, asset management to maintain a state of good repair, operations, maintenance, vehicle propulsion, communications, and vehicle electronics.

The SDP provides funding for background literature review, analysis, testing, and evaluation of industry critical topic areas, in accordance with Federal public transportation law (U.S.C. § 5314(a)(1)(B)). SDP program funds are used to advance FTA’s standards program through targeted technical assistance and the support activities indicated above in safety and non-safety topic areas to determine if standards should be developed or if existing standards should be modified to address these topic areas. Eligible activities also include the development of public transportation standards in partnership with the transit industry and SDOs. 

The SDP does not include funding for capital procurements.

Eligible Recipients

Eligible project partners and sub-recipients may include, but are not limited to:

• Public transportation systems
• Private for-profit and nonprofit organizations, including technology system suppliers and bus manufacturers
• Operators of transportation, such as employee shuttle services or airport connector services or university transportation systems
• State or local government entities
• Other organizations that may contribute to the success of the project team including consultants, research consortia or nonprofit industry organizations, and institutions of higher education
• Standard Development Organizations

Statutory References

Technical Assistance and Workforce Development (49 U.S.C. § 5314(a)(1)(B))

Allocation of Funding

Standards Development Program projects are funded under Technical Assistance and Workforce Development (49 U.S.C. § 5314).

Past Selected Projects

Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) Standards Projects 

Resources

• In calendar years 2021-22, FTA published the following reports under the Standards Development Program: 
  • Emergency Lighting and Signage for Rail Transit Passenger Vehicles (Report 0199) 
  • Inward- and Outward-facing Audio and Video Recordings for Transit Rail Vehicles (Report 0200) 
  • Effective Practices in Rail Transit Accident Investigations (Report 0203) 
  • Effective Practices in Bus Transit Accident Investigations (Report 0204) 
  • FTA Standards Development Program: Rail Transit Roadway Worker Protection (Report 0212) 
  • Research Report and Findings: Review of Standards for Track Inspection and Maintenance (Report 0215) 
  • FTA Standards Development Program: Rail Transit Roadway/Pedestrian Grade Crossing, Exploratory Report (Report 0216)
  • FTA Standards Development Program: Over-the-Counter and Prescription Drug Use in the Public Transit Industry (Report 0217) 
  • Rail Transit Agency Accident Investigations—Background Research (Report 0221) 
  • Transit Bus Accident Investigations—Background Research (Report 0222)
  • FTA Standards Development Program: Medical Fitness for Duty and Fatigue Risk Management (Report 0223) 
  • FTA Standards Development Program: Transit Bus Operator Temporary Barrier to Reduce COVID-19 Exposure (Report 0224) 
  • FTA Standards Development Program: Needs Assessment for Transit Rail Transmission-Based Train Control (TBTC) (Report 0225)
  • Use of Event Data Recorders in Rail Transit (Report 0226) 
  • FTA Standards Development Program: Mitigations for Trespasser and Suicide Fatalities and Injuries (Report 0227) 
  • Research Report and Findings: Specifications and Guidelines for Rail Tunnel Design, Construction, Maintenance, and Rehabilitation (Report 0231) 
  • Research Report and Findings: Emergency Egress in Rail Transit Tunnels (Report 0232)
  • Research Report and Findings: Crash Energy Management for Heavy Rail Vehicles, Light Rail Vehicles, and Streetcars (Report 0233)
  • Research Report and Findings: Light Rail Technology Scan and Case Studies (Report 0234)
  • Research Report and Findings: Review of Specifications and Guidelines for Rail Tunnel Repair and Rehabilitation (Report 0235)
  • Research Report and Findings: Specifications and Guidelines for Rail Tunnel Inspection and Maintenance (Report 0236)