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FTA Transit Safety - SSOA Certification due 4/15/19


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#1 CNJRoss

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Posted 20 November 2014 - 08:10 PM

USDOT Fast Lane blog, 11/20:

2015 promises big steps forward in transit safety


Posted by
Thomas Littleton, FTA Associate Administrator for Transit Safety and Oversight


Although DOT has been protecting people on roads and in our skies for decades, until recently the Federal Transit Administration had no safety authority when it came to the nation’s subways, buses, and other forms of public transit. In 2012, after years of FTA advocacy, Congress finally authorized an oversight role, and since then we've been working hard to establish that authority and develop a framework that will allow us to better protect the nation's transit riders and its employees.

It's a complicated process, but we in the FTA Office of Transit Safety and Oversight (TSO) take our commitment to developing an effective safety program for the transit industry extremely seriously. Because a federal safety role in transit is new, we're are also committed to keeping our stakeholders informed every step of the way.

That's why, last week, we sent a letter to transit agencies across America. The letter provides an overview of the safety-related initiatives we're working on and expect to announce in the months ahead—and how these may affect transit agencies --and the tens of millions of Americans who ride transit each and every day.

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For example, in 2015 we plan to propose rules for a stronger, more effective State Safety Oversight Program; a Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program to prepare qualified safety experts for audits and examinations; and a Bus Safety pass-fail testing program. These Notifications of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) will of course be open for comment, and we welcome everyone's input.

We're also looking forward to establishing a National Public Transportation Safety Plan. Working together with the Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS), this plan will coordinate data and make risk information widely available to transit agencies. The plan will eventually include findings from research, reports, and best practices to help transit systems develop safety plans grounded in strong fundamentals.

And we will set clear safety performance criteria specific to each mode of public transportation. These criteria will be consistent with the requirements we set for transit agency safety plans as well as established standards for keeping transit in good repair. The traveling public can rest assured that the minimum standards we set for transit safety will consider the best practices and recommendations of the transit industry as well as relevant recommendations by the National Transportation Safety Board. FTA’s regulatory actions will also take into account the wide range of diversity in the transit industry, which has transit agencies of many different sizes providing different services to riders with unique needs.

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These are just a few highlights from the letter we sent to our stakeholders, and we encourage you to read the complete letter. We think you'll find that the steps we're planning to take in 2015 will go a long way toward protecting the safety of transit riders across the U.S.

As FTA Acting Administrator Therese McMillan said in a recent message, "We remain committed to helping a safe industry get even safer by fostering sound policy, more efficient practices for risk management and safety assurance, and a strong safety culture at every transit system --whatever its size or mode of operation."

#2 CNJRoss

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Posted 26 November 2014 - 06:24 PM

Metro Magazine, 11/26:

FTA launches voluntary examination of Chicago rail, bus operations

 

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is conducting a voluntary safety examination of the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) rail and bus transit system. This is in response to the CTA’s formal request for safety collaboration earlier this year.

 

The purpose of the examination is to help CTA assess the strengths and weaknesses of the safety of operations and identify areas where the agency can further reduce risks and make other safety improvements. This is the first safety examination FTA has undertaken in keeping with its new safety regulatory authority under MAP-21.

 

“Safety is our highest priority and we are committed to working with our transportation partners nationwide to ensure that safety operations receive the attention they require,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “We will continue to work closely with the CTA to make sure that they receive the greatest benefits from this assessment.”

 

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#3 CNJRoss

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Posted 11 January 2015 - 01:21 PM

Chciago Tribune, 11/21 (Late Post):
 

CTA joins federal safety program, becoming first in nation

 

The CTA will participate in the launch of a federal program that will develop standards for upgrading rail safety in Chicago and at transit agencies across the U.S., officials said Friday.

 

The safety management system is being created by the Federal Transit Administration, which until recently was responsible mostly for evaluating grant applications from transit agencies and handing out funding.

 

While commuter rail systems including Metra are regulated on safety issues by the Federal Railroad Administration, the CTA and other transit agencies like it have not answered to a federal safety oversight agency.

 

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#4 CNJRoss

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Posted 20 February 2015 - 03:41 PM

USDOT/FTA news release, 2/20:

 

U.S. Transportation Secretary Foxx Announces Proposed Rule to Increase State Safety Oversight of Rail Transit Systems

WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced today at Washington’s Union Station a proposed rule (PDF) to increase oversight responsibilities of State Safety Oversight Agencies (SSOAs) by replacing the existing outdated regulatory framework with one designed to better evaluate the effectiveness of a rail transit agency’s system safety program. The Secretary’s visit was the last stop on his four-day, five state GROW AMERICA Express bus tour highlighting the importance of investing in America’s infrastructure and to encourage Congress to act on a long-term transportation bill.

 

Reflecting new statutory safety authority established by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), the proposed rule issued by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) would give states more resources to increase oversight over rail transit systems. The proposed rule would require adoption and enforcement of federal and state safety laws, and require SSOAs to be financially and legally independent of the rail transit systems they oversee.

 

In addition, FTA would enhance its authority to review and approve each State Safety Oversight (SSO) program, including triennial audits, review of annual status reports, and certification of SSOAs. If states are not meeting the statutory criteria, FTA may withhold federal funds until an SSO program is certified. Public comments on the proposed rule will be accepted for sixty days after its publication in the Federal Register.

 

“We must improve, modernize and transform rail transit safety oversight to provide the increased level of safety expected by the millions of passengers who use rail transit every day,” said Secretary Foxx. “Rail transit is a safe travel option, but we have an obligation and opportunity to make it even safer.”

 

“FTA appreciates the continued cooperation and engagement of our state and rail transit industry partners as we take this major step forward toward a new safety regulatory framework,” said FTA Acting Administrator Therese McMillan. “We drafted the proposed rule to ensure it allows for the flexibility and scalability needed to provide effective safety benefits for passengers and employees of transit agencies of all sizes and operating environments.”

 

On February 2, the Obama Administration announced a plan to address the infrastructure deficit with a $478 billion, six-year surface transportation reauthorization proposal, building on the GROW AMERICA Act, which the Administration first released last year.  The plan makes critical investments in infrastructure needed to promote long-term economic growth, enhance safety and efficiency, and support jobs for the 21st century.

 

The need for these investments is clear. Earlier this month, U.S. DOT released a landmark study, “Beyond Traffic” that looked at the trends and choices facing American transportation over the next three decades. These included a rapidly growing population, increasing freight volume, demographic shifts in rural and urban areas, and a transportation system that’s facing more frequent extreme weather events. A key takeaway of the study was that we need to keep investing in transportation for the sake of future generations, and the proposals included in GROW AMERICA would allow us to do just that.

 

The proposed SSO rule reflects the flexible, scalable principles of Safety Management Systems  that focus on organization-wide safety policy, proactive hazard identification and risk informed decision-making as part of risk management, safety assurance, and safety promotion (safety training and communications).

 

Also this week, FTA announced that it will publish a final interim safety certification training program (PDF) designed to enhance the technical competencies and capabilities of individuals responsible for direct safety oversight of rail transit systems at agency, state and federal levels; and of individuals who conduct safety audits of these systems. The interim training program becomes effective ninety days from its publication in the Federal Register. 

 

FTA plans to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking to establish the permanent provisions later this year.



#5 CNJRoss

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Posted 23 February 2015 - 03:19 PM

USDOT "Fast Lane" blog, 2/23:

 

Improving the safety of your rail transit ride
Posted by Therese McMillan, FTA Acting Adminsistrator
 

America’s rail transit systems already offer one of the safest ways to travel about your local community, and we at the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) are working to make public transportation by rail even safer.

 

That's why, last Friday, Secretary Foxx announced a new proposed rule that will improve, modernize and transform rail transit safety oversight to help ensure the increased level of safety expected by the millions of passengers who use rail transit every day.

 

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The proposed rule would replace existing federal regulations with ones designed to better oversee the effectiveness of a transit agency’s system safety program. 

 

It is meant to provide more comprehensive and clear requirements for state agencies that have oversight responsibility for rail transit systems that are not already regulated by the Federal Railroad Administration.

 

In addition, FTA has published today an interim safety certification program

 

Both of these efforts are major milestones in implementing new safety regulatory authority established under MAP-21.

 

We want to hear from you about our plans to improve rail transit safety.  Public comments on the proposed rule will be accepted for 60 days after date of publication in the Federal Register, during the week of February 23, 2015.

 

We look forward to hearing your comments, continuing the conversation, and putting forward the best regulations possible for the safety and efficiency of transit riders nationwide.



#6 CNJRoss

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Posted 06 February 2016 - 09:34 AM

FTA news release:

 

Federal Transit Administration Issues Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan Proposed Rule and Proposed National Safety Plan

 

2/5/2016
 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today  issued a proposed rule for the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (Agency Safety Plan) and a notice of availability for the proposed National Public Transportation Safety Plan (National Safety Plan.)

 

“Public transit systems are an essential transportation option for so many and we must continue and even improve on their strong safety performance records,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “The proposals issued today would guide transit agencies in the development of comprehensive plans to manage risk and improve safety for the millions of people who use and work in public transportation every day.”

 

Both the Agency Safety Plan proposed rule and the proposed National Safety Plan are statutory requirements first authorized by Congress in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) Act in 2012 and reauthorized in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act in 2015.

 

“FTA is making great progress in establishing the regulatory framework which will become the blueprint for the future of safety performance in public transit,” said FTA Acting Administrator Therese McMillan. “Today’s proposals are about setting safety performance criteria and targets, voluntary minimum safety standards and a means to communicate safety issues industry-wide.”

 

The Agency Safety Plan proposed rule would apply to operators of public transportation systems that receive Federal financial assistance and takes into account their size, complexity and operating environments. It would require that the Safety Management System approach to safety, which provides flexibility in establishing processes to address safety risks, be implemented in agencies’ safety plans. The proposed rule would also require transit agencies to set performance targets based on the safety performance criteria established under the National Safety Plan. In addition, transit agencies would be required to have their plans approved by the Board of Directors (or equivalent) and perform an annual review and update of the plan.

 

Additionally, the Agency Safety Plan proposed rule would require rail transit agencies to include an emergency preparedness and response plan consistent with existing regulations. Further, transit agencies would be required to share their safety performance targets with Metropolitan Planning Organizations to aid in the planning process, and smaller transit agencies would be allowed to have their safety plan drafted and certified by the state in which they operate.

 

The proposed National Safety Plan is not a rulemaking action, but would guide the national effort in managing the safety risks of public transportation systems. Specifically, it would establish the safety performance criteria of fatalities, injuries, safety events, and system reliability for all modes of public transportation.

 

The proposed National Safety Plan would also set voluntary minimum safety standards for public transportation vehicles in revenue service not otherwise regulated by another Federal agency, including vehicle crashworthiness, fire-life safety, data recorders, and emergency lighting and signage. In addition, it would set voluntary minimum safety standards to ensure the safe operation of rail transit systems, including use and prohibition of electronic devices, roadway worker protection, work zone protections on mainline tracks and in rail yards, operating rules compliance and contractor responsibilities.

 

FTA intends for the National Safety Plan to serve as FTA’s primary tool for communicating with the transit industry about the industry’s safety performance. FTA expects to provide updates from time to time in response to risk management trends in the transit industry, emerging technologies, best practices, findings from research, and other industry developments.

 

Public comments on both the Agency Safety Plan proposed rule and the proposed National Safety Plan must be received by April 5, 2016.

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#7 CNJRoss

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Posted 19 March 2016 - 04:39 PM

Progressive Railroading, 3/15:

FTA announces final rule for states' transit-rail safety oversight

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has unveiled a final rule designed to strengthen safety oversight and enforcement authority to prevent and mitigate accidents on transit-rail systems, the agency announced yesterday.

The rule will take effect 30 days after it is published in tomorrow's Federal Register, U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) officials said in a press release.

SNIP

The final rule applies to states in which a transit-rail system operates. The rule requires that a state must submit its State Safety Oversight (SSO) program to FTA for certification and that the designated SSO agency must have financial and legal independence from the transit agencies it oversees, USDOT officials said.

 

More here



#8 CNJRoss

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Posted 20 March 2016 - 06:42 AM

FTA email 3/18:

 

FTA Announces Webinar for the State Safety Oversight Final Rule

 

The Federal Transit Administration’s Office of Transit Safety & Oversight will host a webinar from 2-3:30 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, April 12 to discuss the State Safety Oversight (SSO) final rule. This session will be an opportunity for attendees to learn more about the provisions of the rule and ask questions related to implementation.

 

The SSO rule, published on March 16, 2016, replaces the rules that had been in place for the past 20 years and significantly strengthens a State Safety Oversight Agency’s (SSOA) authority to investigate accidents and oversee a rail transit agency’s implementation of its System Safety Program Plan and Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan. SSOAs will have three years from the effective date of the final rule to fully implement the rule’s requirements. Stay updated on FTA safety rulemakings on FTA’s safety-related rulemaking webpage.

 

Links:

Register for the Webinar

State Safety Oversight Final Rule

Safety-Related Rulemaking webpage

 



#9 CNJRoss

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Posted 20 March 2016 - 06:47 AM

USDOT email 3/15:
 

 

New FTA Final Rule Strengthens State Safety Oversight of Rail Transit

 

For more than 20 years, State Safety Oversight Agencies (SSOAs) have served as the primary oversight agencies for rail fixed guideway public transportation systems within their State. During that time, the SSOAs responsibility has been to review and approve System Safety Program Plans, oversee accident investigation and reporting, and conduct triennial safety reviews. However, SSOAs lacked the appropriate enforcement authority, and had limited funding and staff to effectively carry out their critical mission of ensuring the safety of transit passengers and workers.
 
The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) Act amended Federal transit law by directing the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to establish a comprehensive public transportation safety program to improve the safety of our Nation's public transportation systems, which includes an enhanced State Safety Oversight Program. Today, FTA is proud to  announce the first of four safety regulations required by Congress  will be published in the Federal Register on March 16, 2016, and take effect 30 days later.

SSOAMap.jpg

 

The State Safety Oversight Program final rule  (SSO rule) replaces existing regulations and significantly strengthens an SSOA’s authority to prevent and mitigate accidents and incidents on rail transit systems to help ensure the safety of riders and workers. Each SSOA is now required to have the enforcement authority, legal and financial independence from the agencies it oversees, and human resources necessary for overseeing the number, size, and complexity of the rail transit agencies within its jurisdiction. In addition, SSOAs must train and certify personnel responsible for performing safety oversight activities and will continue to conduct triennial audits of the safety programs established by each rail transit system.  

 

Click here to continue reading New FTA Final Rule Strengthens State Safety Oversight of Rail Transit

 



#10 CNJRoss

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Posted 24 June 2017 - 07:31 AM

FTA email 6/19/17:
 

FTA Posts Status of State Progress to Meet Rail Transit Safety Certification Deadline, Avoid Funding Impact if Deadline is Missed

 

FTA has notified the 30 states where rail transit systems operate that federal law requires they establish an FTA-certified State Safety Oversight (SSO) Program by April 15, 2019. If a state fails to obtain certification for its SSO Program by the deadline, FTA is prohibited by federal transportation law from obligating any funds to public transportation agencies throughout that state until certification is achieved.

 

When FTA’s SSO Program final rule took effect in April 2016, it established a three-year timeframe for states to obtain certification for their SSO Programs. With the certification deadline less than two years away, FTA is encouraging states to act quickly to enact any necessary legislation, statutes and regulations, particularly those states whose legislatures meet only part-time or biennially. Currently, there are nine states remaining that still require legislative action at the state level prior to FTA certification.

 

Links
State Safety Oversight (SSO) Program
State Safety Oversight Program Certification Status

 






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