Transit Bus Safety and Security Program Federal Transit Administration 2010 MTAP/SCOPT ANNUAL WINTER MEETING Savannah, Georgia Presented by Ream Lazaro

PROGRAM BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW Slide 2

Federal Transit Administration Transit Bus Safety and Security Program  FTA Bus Program initially developed in response to NTSB recommendations to USDOT  Created as a result of MOU partnership with - FTA - APTA - CTAA - AASHTO  Initial Model Program never left draft stage due to series of issues / approaches requiring revision  FTA revised / re-energized Transit Bus Safety Program in 2006  Newly revised Program focuses on small urban and rural transit  Based on philosophy of “one-size does not fit all”  Program is voluntary and focused on providing technical assistance in safety, security and emergency preparedness

MAJOR PROGRAM COMPONENTS

Federal Transit Administration Transit Bus Safety and Security Program  Working Group of Industry Stakeholders Assist in providing Program direction  “Roadmap for Excellence” Provides specific guidance to transit agencies in building safety, security and emergency preparedness infrastructure  Orientation Seminars Held in partnership with state DOTs Provide guidance, technical assistance, opportunity for dialogue with small urban and rural transit agencies  Voluntary Onsite Reviews Provide transit agencies with technical assistance for mission achievement Keeps Program firmly founded in operational reality  Web site – Immediate access to safety / security technical assistance resources

PROGRAM SUCCESSES Slide 6

Federal Transit Administration Transit Bus Safety and Security Program  20 Seminars held in partnership with State DOTs as of 12/2010  Allowed face to face dialogue on safety, security, emergency preparedness with over 600 participants from rural and small urban transit agencies  Participant evaluations of Seminar helpfulness averaged a positive 4.7 out of a possible 5.0 ORIENTATION SEMINARS

Federal Transit Administration Transit Bus Safety and Security Program VOLUNTARY ONSITE REVIEWS  34 transit systems from over 26 states reviewed as of 12/2010  Mid-sized urban, small urban, and rural agencies  Technical assistance materials delivered Written report of recommendations for improvement On average, provided over 20 documents per agency to support recommendations  Participant evaluations as to helpfulness of review process Averaged a positive 3.5 out of a possible 4.0

Federal Transit Administration Transit Bus Safety and Security Program TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WEB SITE  Over 700 individual registered users representing over 500 transit agencies (as of 12/2010)  Users downloaded over 70,000 technical assistance documents (as of 12/2010) Includes policies, procedures, protocols, forms, templates  Registered users receive timely information on critical safety, security and emergency preparedness issues via  blast s  web site postings Slide 9

TRANSIT SYSTEM SAFETY & SECURITY CRITICAL CHALLENGES ILLUMINATED THROUGH PROGRAM SEMINARS, ONSITE REVIEWS & WEB SITE DOWNLOADS Slide 10

Federal Transit Administration Transit Bus Safety and Security Program MANAGEMENT  Formally designating individual(s) responsible for safety, security, training, and emergency preparedness activities  Developing system specific Safety Program Plans and/or Security Program Plans  Ensuring Mission Achievement and Business / Strategic Planning Processes are based on measurable safety/ security goals and objectives  Ensuring a formal methodology for gathering input on safety/security concerns from passengers and community  Creating a positive organizational safety culture with empowered front line employees

Federal Transit Administration Transit Bus Safety and Security Program MANAGEMENT (cont’d)  Integrating safety / security concerns into facility design and vehicle procurement processes  Formally delineating and monitoring contractor activities related to safety, security, and training issues  Resolving question of insurance coverage and liability concerns when using transit vehicles in community emergency response  Building collaborative processes within Collective Bargaining structure to positively impact employee safety/security performance

Federal Transit Administration Transit Bus Safety and Security Program OPERATIONS and MAINTENANCE  Knowing where and how to access safety / security related regulatory standards  Ensuring fixed route service design can be operated on schedule without encouraging unsafe driver performance  Ensuring parameters of demand response / paratransit service are supported by formal policies defining assistance level that are strictly enforced, e.g., curb-to-curb vs. door-to-door  Developing formal policies governing transport of children  Formalizing specific policies covering such areas as oxygen tanks, service animals, and passenger emergencies  Developing a comprehensive vehicle maintenance plan  Appropriately documenting preventive and corrective maintenance

Federal Transit Administration Transit Bus Safety and Security Program OPERATIONS and MAINTENANCE (cont’d)  Ensuring drivers, including relief drivers, perform documented vehicle inspections  Clearly marking vehicles for identification from the ground and roof decals if appropriate  Ensuring vehicles are equipped with basic safety equipment (fire extinguisher, web cutter, reflective triangles, first aid kit, bio-hazard kit, flashlight)  Ensuring maintenance shops are equipped with all basic elements of safety protection  Utilizing safety / security related performance measurements  Ensuring existence of appropriate hazmat plan including MSDS sheets and spill response if maintenance is in house  Formal radio / cell phone policies to mitigate driver safety risk

Federal Transit Administration Transit Bus Safety and Security Program HUMAN RESOURCES  Creating driver, dispatcher, and supervisor Handbooks that contain specific guidance for each of the 3 job functions on standard operating and emergency procedures  Becoming / remaining compliant with Drug & Alcohol program requirements including when new requirements added  Creating Workplace Violence policies and delivering training  Addressing issue of periodic driver functional medical examinations when not mandated through the CDL process  Tracking / monitoring driver on-duty and driving hours in reference to fatigue management concerns  Formally structuring and documenting the employment interview process

Federal Transit Administration Transit Bus Safety and Security Program HUMAN RESOURCES (cont’d)  Developing incentive programs that award safe performance  Periodically evaluating and documenting driver behind-the- wheel performance  Providing and documenting driver training on: security awareness and handling potentially dangerous passengers responding to suspicious items on or off bus emergency response procedures, such as for accidents and fires securing non-traditional and oversize mobility devices vehicle orientations on all vehicle prototypes required to operate  Creating comprehensive individual training files that document all training received both in classroom and on- vehicle including trainer and trainee signatures, hours, and dates of training

Federal Transit Administration Transit Bus Safety and Security Program SAFETY ACTIVITIES  Holding periodic formal driver safety meetings with structured agenda and attendee sign in rosters  Developing a formal documented process for hazard identification and risk reduction including proactively soliciting employee input  Developing specific procedures for drivers to use in responding/reacting to emergency safety / security events on the bus  Developing a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP)  Providing training for managers/supervisors on formal accident investigation

Federal Transit Administration Transit Bus Safety and Security Program SAFETY ACTIVITIES (cont’d)  Creating a process for determining preventable vs. non- preventable accidents and issuing discipline  Formally capturing accident / incident near miss data for trending and service modification  Conducting and documenting periodic facility safety audits using a standardized OSHA type checklist  Conducting periodic and documented operational safety audits of contractors using a standardized checklist

Federal Transit Administration Transit Bus Safety and Security Program SECURITY ACTIVITIES  Conducting threat & vulnerability assessment as tool for risk mitigation Include input from emergency management / first responders  Ensuring buses in revenue service are locked or kept under driver control at all times  Utilizing tools such as lighting, fencing, and cameras to enhance security of vehicle storage areas  Using tools such as cameras and controlled access systems to enhance security of transit facilities  Developing formal policy for revenue handling / transfer to maximize fare and employee security  Formally capturing security related near miss data for trending and threat mitigation

Federal Transit Administration Transit Bus Safety and Security Program EMERGENCY / ALL-HAZARDS MANAGEMENT  Working in conjunction with local / regional emergency management to specifically and realistically define transit’s role in emergency community response  Ensuring that appropriate transit staff are National Incident Management (NIMS) certified  Developing a post community emergency recovery strategy to guide system re-start  Developing and instituting an emergency information dissemination policy that guides key staff on information release  Developing emergency communication protocols for use between driver and dispatch in case of on-vehicle security related event Slide 20

Federal Transit Administration Transit Bus Safety and Security Program EMERGENCY / ALL-HAZARDS MANAGEMENT  Ensuring transit has opportunity to participate in Local Emergency Planning Committee meetings (LEPC)  Building a strong working relationship with local / regional emergency management and police / fire first responders  Working with emergency management to assist in identification and location of individuals with access and functional needs who may require evacuation assistance  Familiarizing police / fire first responders on transit vehicle operation, including lifts  Ensuring transit’s involvement in community emergency drills / simulations / exercises Slide 21

This concludes the presentation on the: FTA TRANSIT BUS SAFETY & SECURITY PROGRAM THANK YOU Slide 22