Dear Colleagues,
The role and importance of public transportation in every community throughout this country is growing rapidly. Bus systems are upgrading equipment and moving more riders than ever before. Commuter rail lines are helping regions manage increasing traffic problems while new or expanding light rail and bus rapid transit systems are connecting cities and revitalizing neighborhoods.
The unfortunate events surrounding September 11th, a major power outage in the northeast,
gulf-coast hurricanes, and wildfires in the west have also increased the awareness of public
transportation’s importance in a time of emergency. While you are not an “essential” employee
in the traditional sense, such as police officers and firefighters, your role as a public transportation employee is still as vital during a crisis as it is during a normal rush-hour commute.
To help you better prepare yourself and your family to cope with an emergency while still allowing you to effectively fulfill your duties, the Federal Transit Administration and the National Transit Institute have prepared this guide. My hope is that you not only read, but truly embrace the suggestions in this guide, particularly those that apply to your own personnel preparedness. Recent history has reminded us that no region of our country is safe from all hazards and we all need to do what we can to ensure the safety of our families and loved ones.
I hope you find the information in this guide useful in helping you improve your preparedness both at home as well as at work. You are one of over 300,000 transit employees who are helping the country’s public transit systems better serve their communities in times of calm and crisis.
Thank you for your enduring commitment to your customers, your transit system, and to the public transportation community. Through your individual efforts, the entire transit industry thrives.
James S. Simpson
Federal Transit Administrator