More than 700 transit agencies have filed compliant safety plans in accordance with a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) rule issued in 2018.
The deadline for creating plans was July 20.
The Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan Final Rule required agencies receiving the FTA’s Urbanized Area Formula Grants to set safety performance targets in safety plans that will be reviewed and certified annually.
Plans were required to include Safety Management System principles and practices. These practices allow management and labor to come together, addressing risk, analyzing data, and providing a safer ride for passengers while protecting workers and operators.
If an agency failed to submit a safety plan by the deadline, it would become ineligible for future FTA grants.
“After helping keep America moving throughout the pandemic, transit agencies across the country are stepping up again by developing important plans to keep riders and workers safe in the months and years ahead,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said.
Transit safety and safety across all modes of transportation is a critical priority for the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Biden-Harris Administration.
The FTA supports transit agencies and states by providing technical assistance and resources such as workshops, webinars, and voluntary reviews of draft Agency Safety Plans.