City staff recommends approval of this Resolution.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), as part of receiving FTA funding, requires the City to develop safety plans that include the processes and procedures necessary for implementing Safety Management Systems (SMS).  As the City contracts with First Transit to manage and operate the City intra-city fixed route service, First Transit completed the IndeBus Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) in coordination with FTA requirements.

On July 19, 2019, the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan rule (49 CFR Part 673) became effective.  This rule requires certain operators of public transportation systems that are recipients or subrecipients of FTA grant funds to develop safety plans that include the processes and procedures necessary for implementing Safety Management Systems (SMS).  Each transit operator is required to certify that it has a safety plan meeting the requirements of the rule by July 20, 2021.

The following Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) details the safety processes and procedures for the Inde Bus.  This plan utilizes existing First Transit safety practices and industry best practices to meet the new regulation set in 49 CFR Part 673 of the Federal regulations.

The PTASP includes formal documentation to guide First Transit in proactive safety management policy, safety risk management, safety assurance, and safety promotion.  The goal is to provide management and labor with a comprehensive and collaborative approach to managing safety.  The plan includes the process and schedule for an annual review of the plan to review the safety performance measures and update processes that may be needed to improve the organization’s safety practices.