FTA Holds Bus Safety and Security Program Orientation Seminar in Maine
On August 23, 2012, twenty-one (21) representatives from 19 agencies attended an FTA Bus Safety and Security Program Orientation Seminar in Waterville, Maine. The seminar was co-sponsored by the Maine Department of Transportation. Maine is the 25th state to partner with FTA in holding a Bus Program Seminar.
The purpose of these Orientation Seminars is to provide a brief background and an overview of the Bus Safety and Security Program, details of the elements of bus safety and security excellence, a demonstration of the Bus Safety and Security Program website and a discussion about steps to take to implement the Program at a transit agency.
Maine DOT worked with FTA’s project team to conduct this one-day, free event and sent invitations to bus transit providers throughout the state, ensuring excellent attendance. Formal feedback provided after the seminar by attendees was positive and enthusiastic with an average total rating of 4.7 out of a possible 5. A few comments made by attendees:
“Great workshop. Excellent material presented.”
“I’m looking forward to using the website to better our safety and security process.”
“Very eye opening! Good information. Much to do with limited resources. Thank you for this opportunity.”
“A lot of information and work but presented in a ‘bullet’ like format that makes it seem doable. Overview provided great direction to get me started.”
Feedback on all Orientation Seminars held to-date can be viewed here.
Transportation Secretary LaHood Urges Improved Safety of Public Transit
WRITTEN BY RYAN GRAY
FRIDAY, 31 AUGUST 2012 08:56
School Transportation News Magazine
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today called on 26 states with significant transit systems to meet future federal regulations that will target increased safety of public transit, as called for by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) transportation re-authorization bill.
President Obama signed the two-year reauthorization last month. Provisions grant the Federal Transit Authority (FTA) with establishing and enforcing a new, comprehensive framework to oversee the safety of public transportation throughout the United States as it pertains to heavy rail, light rail, buses, ferries, and streetcars.
“We are closing a loophole in how transit safety oversight is regulated and enforced that is long overdue,” said FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff in a statement. “For the first time FTA will be able to establish basic safety standards to better ensure the safety of tens of millions of passengers that ride public transportation each day.”
According to estimates from the American Public Transportation Association, elementary and secondary students comprise about 10 percent of annual transit ridership.
LaHood sent his letter to governors of the 26 states plus Puerto Rico and the mayor for the District of Columbia. He wrote that the FTA will provide grant money appropriated through MAP-21 for the states and areas to meet the new requirements. MAP-21 also requires a 20-percent, non-Federal match for the grants despite an original administration request for 100-percent funding.
“With our transit safety commitment entering a new era, I ask you to review your designated (State Safety Oversight) agency to determine if they are the appropriate and legal entity to fulfill this role going forward,” LaHood wrote. “I also ask you to begin now to make whatever funding arrangements must be made at the state level to be prepared to match Federal grants and adequately fund this important new requirement.”
Police Presence at NJ Transit Train Platforms Was Counter-Terrorism Initiative
August 22, 2012
http://matawan-aberdeen.patch.com
A show of uniformed, armed police standing at train station platforms and buses Wednesday morning was part of the agency’s counter-terrorism and crime deterrence initiative, and not in reaction to any particular event, officials said today.
At a press conference Wednesday afternoon, NJ Transit Police Chief Christopher Trucillo said that today was the first day a nationwide effort called BUSSAFE, an extension of RAILSAFE launched one year ago to improve safety. The initiative included increased inspections and patrols of terminals, facilities and bus garages.
“Today was designated as a day where transit agencies across the county would engage in a program to increase uniform police visibility,” Trucillo said.
Participating officers boarded busses, chatted with bus drivers, and stood guard near bus and rail stations throughout the day to emphasize their presence and instill a sense of security in customers, Trucillo explained. No additional bag searches took place.
“Just to step on a bus and have somebody visually look in the bus, and have the folks on the bus see a police presence, and to give a sense of security to folks who use the bus daily,” Trucillo said.
Twenty-eight local police departments, the NJ Transit Police Department, and TSA surface inspectors participated in the BUSSAFE initiative.
Participating police departments spanned the state, including Cresskill, Englewood, Franklin Lakes, Edison, South Brunswick, Beachwood, Lakewood, Tenafly, and the Port Authority. Police departments were allowed to choose whether or not they would participate, based on availability of personnel and resources, Trucillo said.
Across the country, the increase in police visibility included multiple cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Denver, Boston, and Dallas.
According to Trucillo, there have been no credible terroristic threats made against NJ Transit bus lines, however he emphasized the importance of being prepared for the worst case scenario.
“We’ve got to be forward thinking and we look at what goes on in other parts of the world. I think that’s the importance of the initiation of BUSSAFE,” he said.
Approximately 600,000 customers use NJ Transit a day.
Although a date has not been set, a nationwide increase in police visibility will likely occur again, according to Trucillo.
In addition to BUSSAFE and RAILSAFE, NJ Transit is halfway complete with training all of their approximately 11,000 employees on how to recognize suspicious behavoir, Trucillo said. The transit agency also has a tip line, 1-888-TIPS-NJT, and promotes a “See something, say something,” campaign.
Bus-Rapid-Transit System Proves Successful, Data Shows
Several weeks ago the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a positive study of U.S. based Bus-Rapid-Transit (BRT) systems. Thirteen of the 15 projects that provided study data reported increases in ridership over the most recent service year. When BRT replaced another transit service, it decreased travel time between 10-35 percent. While total ridership varied, the M15 BRT line in New York City carried more than 55,000 daily riders. Its ridership was greater than many light-rail lines as well as that of several light-rail systems. You can read the July 2012 GAO report here.
State Public Transportation Partnership Conference
The 2012 State Public Transportation Partnerships Conference, co-sponsored by AASHTO and CTAA, will be held on August 14-16, 2012, at the Sax Chicago Hotel in Chicago, IL.
MAP-21 FTA web page
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) developed a web page for information and updates on MAP-21 (Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century), the new two-year transportation bill recently passed by Congress. A PowerPoint highlighting MAP-21 programs and a new program funding summary are posted on the site.The web page includes information on FTA’s implementation of MAP-21, guidance for grantees, and a link to sign up for email updates on the topic. http://fta.dot.gov/map21/
CTAV Expo and Conference 2012
Plans are rolling along for the CTAV Expo and Conference 2012 on August 6th through 9th at the Sheraton Roanoke Hotel and Conference Center in Roanoke.
Metro Transit unveils “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign
Posted: Aug 03, 2012 11:21 AM
Updated: Aug 03, 2012 11:22 AM
myfox9.com
Metro Transit has teamed with the Department of Public Safety, a Division of Homeland Security andEmergency Management to deliver a simple safety message “If You See Something, Say Something”.
The new campaign has been established to alert their local authorities if they see something suspicious.
A Metro Transit bus and a light rail train carry the campaign’s message and with thousands of people utilizing public transit every day, the hope is the message will be heard.
“Customers board Metro Transit buses and trains more than 250,000 times each day in Minnesota’s busiest places,” said Acting Metro Transit Police Chief A.J. Olson. “This effective, common sense message raises public safety awareness among transitcustomers and others alike.”
The project is jointly funded by Metro Transit and the Homeland Security Grant Program. That program provides federal money to HSEM which passes 80 percentthrough to local jurisdictions like Metro Transit.
Read more: http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/19190625/metro-transit-unveils-if-you-see-it#ixzz22WydWIHc
Crisis Communication for Transit Employees
The National Transit Institute (NTI) announces a free regional workshop for their “Crisis Communication for Transit Employees” course to be held in Dayton, Ohio on Thursday, August 2, 2012 from 8 AM to Noon.
Safety and Security Voluntary Onsite Review: Lane Transit District
From August 1 – 3, 2012, FTA will conduct a Transit Bus Safety and Security Onsite Review at Lane Transit District in Eugene, Oregon. Onsite Reviews allow FTA to work directly with transit providers and assess their safety, security and emergency preparedness programs within the context of the Bus Program’s Roadmap.