TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Michael A. Hursh, General Manager
SUBJECT: AC Transit Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan
ACTION ITEM
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider approving the AC Transit Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP).
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - Safe and Secure Operations
Initiative - Service Quality
This report provides the AC Transit’s Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) based on 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 must certify they have a safety plan in place meeting the requirements of the rule by July 20, 2020. However, FTA has provided additional time to meet the regulation, providing relief from taking any enforcement action until December 31, 2020.
AC Transit’s Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (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 customers, employees, contractors and the general public who may come into contact with the system.
The PTASP applies to all AC Transit operations including bus, demand-transit, and para-transit; 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.
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:
The advantage of approving AC Transit’s Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan is it will bring the District into compliance with the Federal Transit Administration Final Rule and Safety Management Systems Board Policy No. 480.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS:
Staff found no practical alternatives to the course of action recommended in this report.
PRIOR RELEVANT BOARD ACTION/POLICIES:
Staff Report 19-099: Board Policy No. 480 Safety Management Systems Policy
ATTACHMENTS:
1. AC Transit PTASP
Prepared by:
Tabby Davenport, Safety Manager
In Collaboration with:
William Tonis, Director of Project Controls & Systems Analysis
Lynette Little, Director of Civil Rights & Compliance
Approved/Reviewed by:
Salvador Llamas, Chief Operating Officer
Ahsan Baig, Chief Information Officer
Claudia L. Allen, Chief Financial Officer
Nathaniel Kramer, Acting Executive Director of Human Resources
Beverly Greene, Executive Director of External Affairs, Marketing & Communications
Ramakrishna Pochiraju, Executive Director of Planning & Engineering
Jill A. Sprague, General Counsel