FTA to host listening session on proposed safety plans

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will hold a listening session March 26 to solicit public comments on the agency's proposed national public transportation safety plan and notice of proposed rulemaking for a public transportation agency safety plan.

The FTA will use the session to explain the proposed rulemaking and national plan in more detail, answer questions and hear industry feedback, agency officials said in a press release. The meeting will be held at the American Public Transportation Association's Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.

Under the proposed rule for an agency safety plan, any public transportation receiving federal financial assistance would be required to implement a comprehensive safety plan based on safety management system (SMS) principles.

The national safety plan would serve as a handbook to communicate FTA's approach to safety, help guide the public transportation industry as it implements SMS, meet safety performance criteria and ensure that staff is adequately trained in safety.

The proposed plan and rulemaking were published Feb. 5 in the Federal Register.