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  • Roadmap to Excellence

    Early in 2012, BCG supported FTA’s revision of the Roadmap to Excellence, the document that establishes the program’s structure. Elements of the Roadmap are based on recognized industry guidelines for achieving safety, security and emergency preparedness excellence. Elements include Management, Human Resources, Operations, Maintenance, Safety, Security, and Emergency Preparedness.

  • FTA Dear Colleague Letter: Track Worker Fatalities

    On May 8, 2007, then FTA Administrator James S. Simpson issued a Dear Colleague Letter discussing the eleven right-of-way worker fatalities that occurred between October 2005 and April 2007 and the initiatives underway to address this dramatic trend.

  • FTA Dear Colleague Letter: Track Worker Safety DVD

    On June 12, 2009, FTA Administrator, Peter M. Rogoff, issued a Dear Colleague Letter to the transit community announcing the development of a new safety awareness DVD for right-of-way workers entitled, “A Knock at Your Door.” The lessons learned presented in the DVD reflect the results of investigations and recommendations from SSO agencies and the NTSB.

  • FTA Dear Colleague Letter: SSO Training Curriculum

    In this February 29, 2008 Dear Colleague Letter, FTA Administrator, Peter M. Rogoff, responds to NTSB recommendations R-07-9 and R-07-10. The letter describes the FTA-sponsored SSO Program Manager’s Training Curriculum, developed to strengthen the the effectiveness of SSO Programs.

  • FTA Dear Colleague Letter: Oversight Improvements

    On 2/8/2012, FTA Administrator Peter M. Rogoff issued a Dear Colleague Letter describing a recent top-to-bottom review of FTA oversight processes and improvements to FTA’s oversight activities.

  • FTA Dear Colleague Letter: Non-Punitive Reporting

    On December 13, 2010, FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff issued a Dear Colleague letter regarding the implementation of non-punitive safety reporting systems. The letter urges the transit industry to foster a work environment where employees are free to report problems without fear of retribution. The Administrator asks agencies to examine internal safety reporting systems to determine the extent of its non-punitive nature and to make any necessary enhancements.

  • FTA Dear Colleague Letter: Fort Totten Collision

    FTA Administrator Peter M. Rogoff issued two Dear Colleague Letters related to the Washington Metro red line fatal collision on June 22, 2009 that killed nine and injured 70. The two letters and associated materials here were transmitted to the transit community.

  • FTA Dear Colleague Letter: Event Recorders

    In 2002, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) made Recommendation R-02-19 to FTA urging the agency to “require that new or rehabilitated vehicles funded by FTA grants be equipped with event data recorders (EDRs) meeting Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Standard 1482.1.” On 3/5/07, then Administrator James S. Simpson issued the Dear Colleague letter below, describing FTA activities to assess the current usage of EDRs and continue to urge incorporation into the Nation’s fleet.

  • FTA Dear Colleague Letter: Cell Phone Use

    On 6/26/2009, FTA Administrator, Peter M. Rogoff, issued this Dear Colleague letter reiterating FTA’s commitment to safety and urging the transit community to review and assess policies, procedures and enforcement mechanisms targeting the inappropriate use of cell phones and other personal electronic devices by safety critical personnel.

  • FTA Dear Colleague Letter: Model Bus Program

    In this “Dear Colleague” letter dated 1/3/2007, then FTA Administrator James S. Simpson announces initiatives underway for the Model Transit Bus Safety and Security Program. In partnership with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), and the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA), FTA’s initiative represents a fresh approach to deliver its voluntary program to all bus transit agencies across this Nation.

  • SSO Quarterly Newsletter – Fall 2011

    The 2nd newsletter in FTA’s new cycle of quarterly Rail Transit Safety Newsletters.

  • FTA Safety Bulletin No. 4 – Wire Termination and Splicing

    Employing good wiring practices to prevent future safety hazards is extremely important. Generally, transit agencies have training and certification programs for maintenance personnel engaged in wiring repair and modifications. This bulletin is intended to be a reference document for those systems that currently have programs in place as well as those whose programs are in development.

  • FTA Safety Bulletin No. 2 – Safety in Procurement

    The State Safety Oversight (SSO) program includes requirements for making sure that critical safety issues and concerns are addressed in an on-going manner through the procurement process. This Bulletin provides examples of Critical Safety Items (CSIs) in the procurement process.

  • FTA Safety Bulletin No. 1 – Torqueing Fasteners

    The importance of torqueing fasteners in many applications cannot be overemphasized. Failure of safety sensitive subsystems in rail vehicles and buses such as engines, wheels, brakes, trucks, and structural installations have frequently resulted in catastrophic accidents and derailments. During FTA’s State Safety Oversight (SSO) audits of various state Departments of Transportation, FTA has noted a number of events where nut and bolt torqueing procedures were not in place, not enforced or proper training not conducted.

  • SSO Quarterly Newsletter – Sep 2011

    FTA initiates a new cycle of quarterly Rail Transit Safety Newsletters, welcoming back readers from state safety oversight (SSO) agencies and rail transit agencies who follow safety and security issues and FTA’s SSO program.

  • FTA Data Management Needs Assessment

    Opportunity for improvement FTA’s Office of Safety and Security handles a wide range of data to support a number of different programs. As programs grew and safety priorities matured, the office soon realized that its processes for collecting, maintaining, and … Continue reading →

  • BCG Develops Part 659 Implementation Toolkit

    Background 49 CFR Part 659 establishes FTA’s State Safety Oversight (SSO) Program, mandates the development state agencies, and outlines the requirements for state program standards to oversee the safety and security of local rail transit systems.  The original requirements for … Continue reading →

  • FTA’s First Ever CEO Summit on Safety

    Call to Action In July 2008, FTA Administrator James Simpson called the CEO Safety Summit to facilitate discussion regarding critical safety issues in the rail transit industry.  Administrator Simpson was aware that recent accidents had highlighted weaknesses in programs designed … Continue reading →

  • Track Worker Refresher Training

    Background Heavy rail service reported over 315 passenger injuries resulting from derailments since 2006.  These heavy rail derailments have proved the most severe in terms of injuries.  Five derailments resulted in injury totals of five or more, including one 257-injury … Continue reading →

  • Supporting FTA to develop its SSMP Circular

    Continuous Improvement As the transit community continued to grow in the early 2000s and more projects were receiving FFGAs though the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), safety challenges and concerns within the pre-revenue phase began to emerge and gain attention. FTA … Continue reading →

  • 49 CFR Part 659 Reference Guide

    This reference guide was been developed to support the efforts of states, oversight agencies and rail transit agencies to implement the requirements of the revised 49 CFR Part 659. The reference guide is a checklist tool organized by rule section and required activities. The left column contains a summary of the requirements of the revised rule and offers recommendations for states, oversight agencies, and rail transit agencies.

  • Bus Transit Newsletter – Winter 2009

    In This Issue:
    - Year in Review
    - FTA Orientation Seminar Initiative
    - Industry Accident & Incident Trend Update
    - Industry Vehicle Evacuation Procedures
    - Security & Emergency Preparedness

  • Transit Security Handbook

    This Handbook provides a guide for establishing a certification program to address safety and security that identifies the key activities; incorporates safety and security more fully into transit projects; highlights resources necessary to develop and implement a certification program for safety and security; and provides tools and sample forms to promote implementation of the safety and security certification process.

  • 49 CFR Part 659

    This revised Rule, published on April 29, 2005, revises the requirements for States and transit systems implementing FTA’s State Safety Oversight Program.

  • SSO Program Annual Report: 1999

    This report summarizes activities performed to implement the State Safety Oversight Program during Calendar Year 1999. Information provided by State Oversight Agencies documenting the safety and security performance of the rail transit industry in 1999 is presented, including a discussion of the probable causes of accidents and unacceptable hazardous conditions. This report also highlights procedures and policies, developed by State Oversight Agencies and rail transit systems, which have been particularly effective in supporting the objectives of the State Safety Oversight Program.