Federal compliance for transit - Transit safety - Bus

Federal law requires that recipients of federal Urbanized Area Formula (§ 5307) funds must develop and certify a written Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP, or ASP) compliant with 49 CFR Part 673. Small public transportation providers – those operating fewer than 100 vehicles at peak service hours – can choose to draft their own PTASP or the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) will draft one for them.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) oversees compliance for both large and small transit providers. Under Part 673, both large and small transit providers must have a PTASP. However, FTA has exempted providers that meet the following conditions:

1. ​Do not receive § 5307 funds, and
2. Only receive funds through either (or both):
• ​​§ 5310 – Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Formula Program
• § 5311 – Rural Area Formula Program

Among other requirements, a PTASP must include the following key elements:

1. ​Safety performance measures and targets
• ​​​​​​​​FTA has identified fourteen (14) safety performance measures that must be included in the PTASP, updated annually, and tracked on an ongoing basis.
2. ​​Signature of the Accountable Executive
• ​​The PTASP must be reviewed and updated annually, and signed by the single person identified as the system’s Accountable Executive.
3. Approval of a person or entity that functions as a transit system’s Board of Directors (or equivalent authority)
• ​The PTASP must be reviewed and updated annually, and approved by the board (or equivalent), in addition to being signed by the Accountable Executive.
4. Annual PTASP certification process
• ​​A provider must follow a process to review and assure compliance for the PTASP it has in place each year.

FTA has developed many PTASP-related resources for both large and small transit providers – see links, below. For small transit providers, WisDOT’s Public and Specialized Transit Section is also available for any questions on PTASP development and implementation.

PTASP resources

• FTA’s PTASP Technical Assistance Center (PTASP-TAC)
• 49 CFR Part 670 – Public transportation safety program
• 49 CFR Part 671 – Rail transit roadway worker protection (2024)
• 49 CFR Part 672​ – Public transportation safety certification training program
• 49 CFR Part 673 – Public transportation agency safety plans
• Why SMS? Safety Management System information
• SMS Overview
• Getting Ready for SMS | Guide to the SMS Framework for Bus Transit Safety
• The Role of the Transit Agency’s CSO/SMS Executive and Key Staff
• Safety Performance Targets Guide
• Fact Sheets:
• ​Safety Performance Targets
• Safety Management Policy
• Safety Risk Management
• Safety Assurance (webinar)
• Safety Promotion
  

Contact

Katie Patterson​
Transit Section Lead Worker – Compliance and Oversight
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Bureau of Transit, Local Roads, Railroads and Harbors
(608) 264-7335
katherine.patterson@dot.wi.gov

Eric Stoegbauer
State Safety Oversight Manager
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Bureau of Transit, Local Roads, Railroads and Harbors
(608) 267-6680
eric.stoegbauer@dot.wi.gov