TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Kathleen Kelly, Interim General Manager/Chief Executive Officer
SUBJECT: Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan Annual Updates
ACTION ITEM
AGENDA PLANNING REQUEST: ☐
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider approving minor updates to the AC Transit Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP).
Staff Contact:
Marla Blagg, Chief Safety & Security Officer
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - Safe and Secure Operations
Initiative - Service Quality
This report provides AC Transit’s Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) per Board Policy No. 480 Safety Management Systems to comply with Federal Regulations (49 U.S. Code § 5329).
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no budgetary or fiscal impact directly related to this report.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
Pursuant to federal regulations Title 49 United States Code § 5329, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued a Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) Final Rule on July 19, 2018, which requires certain operators of public transportation systems that receive federal funds to develop safety plans that include the processes and procedures to implement Safety Management Systems (SMS). The original PTASP rule requires that transit operators also certify they have a safety plan in place meeting the requirements of the rule by July 20, 2020.
AC Transit’s PTASP serves as a guideline in the establishment of technical and managerial safety strategies for the identification, assessment and control of safety risks to AC Transit employees, customers, contractors and the public who may use the system.
The PTASP applies to all AC Transit operations, all supporting divisions, and to all activities, which involve the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the transit system, including system expansions. Each AC Transit division and department is charged with the responsibility for the implementation and success of the plan.
The PTASP includes updates as required by FTA General Directive 24-1. Issued on September 25, 2024, this General Directive requires transit agencies subject to FTA's PTASP regulation to conduct a safety risk assessment, identify safety risk mitigations or strategies, and provide information to FTA on how the District is assessing, mitigating and monitoring the safety risk associated with assaults on transit workers by December 26, 2024. AC Transit uses a Safety Risk Management process documented in our PTASP as defined at 49 CFR 673.25(c), to conduct the required assessment. The PTASP that is attached to this staff report meets the new updates from the FTA. Other updates included:
• Adding specific subsection references throughout the document such as 49 CFR 673.13(a)(b) - Certificate of Compliance (page 14)
• Adding specific references to cybersecurity such as Cybersecurity Risk Mitigation 673.25 (e) page 28
• Adding Safety Performance Targets 673.11(a)(3) page 15
• Adding language for the Joint Labor Management Safety Committee page 28
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:
The advantage of approving AC Transit’s Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan, is that it will keep the District into compliance with the FTA’s rulemaking.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS:
Staff found no practical alternatives to the course of action recommended in this report.
PRIOR RELEVANT BOARD ACTION/POLICIES:
Staff Report 20-151: Approving the AC Transit Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan
ATTACHMENTS:
1. AC Transit PTASP Version 4
Prepared by:
Jon Farhat, Safety Manager
In Collaboration with:
Marla Blagg, Chief Safety and Security Officer
Approved/Reviewed by:
Aimee L. Steele, General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer
Marla Blagg, Chief Safety & Security Officer