GAO reviews FTA process to manage safety risks

The Inspector General's Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently analyzed several aspects of the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) role in overseeing public transportation safety.

Of the 12 transit agencies contacted by the GAO, most faced challenges incorporating the FTA's requirements to develop and document safety management systems (SMS) in their new safety plans, according to a news release.

SMS is a performance-based, data-driven framework to manage safety risks throughout an organization. Some transit agencies noted difficulties transitioning from the former 21-element safety plan to SMS and its four required components. However, most agencies also stated they benefited from the FTA's assistance, including guidance documents, webinars and training, GAO officials said.

Upon request, the FTA also reviewed transit agencies' draft safety plans, providing lessons learned from those reviews. The GAO recommends that the FTA identify and document lessons learned from the camera pilot, including a plan to implement needed changes.