The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced it has proposed an updated version of the National Public Transportation Safety Plan.

Reauthorized under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the plan creates a blueprint for transit agencies to adopt stronger safety measures.

The draft of the updated safety plan was published in the Federal Register for a 60-day comment period.

“Safety remains our top priority, and this updated National Public Transportation Safety Program will help make a safe transportation option even safer,” said Deputy Secretary Polly Trottenberg. “This updated guidance incorporates new requirements in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and we look forward to working closely with transit agencies across the country on further improving safety for workers and riders.”

National Public Transportation Safety Plan Improves Transit

The National Public Transportation Safety Plan is FTA’s primary guidance document to improve transit safety performance on all federally supported public transportation systems and includes best practices, tools, technical assistance, voluntary standards, and other resources.

FTA’s proposed updates align with the USDOT’s goal to make our transportation systems safer for all people.

The proposed updates would replace the original plan published in January 2017.

“As millions of Americans take transit to jobs, schools, and other daily activities, we must continue to ensure safety remains the top priority,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “These proposed updates enhance FTA’s safety framework, as future safety-related rules, regulations, and guidance will be informed by the National Public Transportation Safety Plan.”

Updated Version of the Safety Plan

The National Public Transportation Safety Plan lays out a performance-based approach to reduce injuries and fatalities on transit systems under FTA’s safety jurisdiction.

This plan also supports the Department’s long-term goal of reaching zero fatalities on America’s roadways as part of the Department’s National Roadway Safety Strategy by adding safety performance criteria for vehicular collisions and providing voluntary standards for bus transit.

In the updated version of the National Public Transportation Safety Plan, FTA proposes several performance measures, including strategies to reduce the incidents and rates of vehicle collisions, transit worker injuries, fatalities, and transit worker assaults.

FTA also proposes new performance measures for Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan risk reduction programs, which will be used by joint labor-management safety committees to set targets and assess the effectiveness of safety mitigation strategies.

FTA added that it proposes new practices for transit agencies to ensure public and personnel safety during an emergency.  

The National Public Transportation Safety Plan is now open for public comment in the Federal Register for a 60-day comment period, concluding on July 31, 2023.