Securing the future of public transport with new technology

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Safety and security are the number one priorities for transit agencies. In this article from the American Public Transport Association (APTA), Brian Alberts, APTA Director of Safety, and Polly Hanson, APTA Director of Security, Risk and Emergency Management, explain how partnerships, as well as changes to policy and technology, are making mass transit safer.

SAFETY is the number one priority for the public transportn industry. It is more than an operating principle and a promise to the riders of public transit; it is the core value of every member of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). The men and women who manage and operate public transport systems are fully committed to the safety and security of their systems, passengers, employees, and the public. While new technology and policy continues to transform our day-to-day lives, APTA is one of the leading advocates for safety and security improvements in the U.S.

Policy changes

In a bid to improve safety cross the United States, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued the State Safety Oversight (SSO) programme final rule on 16 March 2016. The implementation of this rule requires all State Safety Oversight Agencies (SSOAs) to be compliant with an SSO-certified agency by a deadline of 15 April 2019. SSOs are required to include a number of safety elements for safety certification and APTA has been working with the FTA to ensure its members are aware of this upcoming policy requirement.

Safety management systems

Another effective method for improving safety throughout the United States and Canada is the implementation of safety management systems (SMS). SMS is a management process that has been successful in the aviation industry and is currently being implemented at many public transport properties throughout North America. SMS allows agencies to make effective, risk-based decisions through hazard identification and risk analysis. This process addresses safety issues found throughout the public transit industry and includes four components: safety management policy, safety risk management, safety assurance, and safety promotion. Together, these four components help to facilitate the integration of safety as the core value in all business processes and decision-making, ensuring that transit agencies are becoming safer overall.

The implementation of SMS within a transit agency is not just the responsibility of the safety department but rather an agency-wide approach to safety in everything that they do. Many transit agencies have been implementing SMS, including: Metro Transit Minneapolis-St. Paul, The Greater Cleveland Regional Transportation Authority (GCRTA), and the Utah Transit Authority (UTA). These agencies are all located in states that have SSO programs fully certified by the FTA and are among national leaders in strengthening safety for transit passengers and workers through the implementation of SMS.

New technology

New technologies are entering the transit industry in many areas and through many different functions. APTA works with the industry to promote and support transit agencies in implementing these new transit technologies. One example currently being tested is the retrofitting of buses with an innovative collision avoidance system. The system is designed to alert bus operators of pedestrians, cyclists, and other drivers that enter the bus operator’s blind spots while driving, or before and after dropping off passengers. It adds technology to the buses that include cameras, sensors and digital displays, as well as software elements to record and report incidents, should they happen.

APTA members, like the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) are national leaders in the promotion of collision avoidance technology within public transit.

“One of the main goals of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation is to ensure safe and reliable transportation for Virginia’s citizens, and we actively seek opportunities to implement new technology to make our transit infrastructure safer,” says DRPT Director Jennifer Mitchell. “Driver Assistance Systems are a great way to add yet another safety feature to our fleets.” The DRPT is planning to retrofit 50 buses with collisions avoidance systems in the future.

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Biography

BRIAN ALBERTS is the Director of Safety at the American Public Transportation Association, where he leads all safety policy and standards work. He is the staff advisor for the Rail Safety, Bus Safety, and Safety Coordinating Committees, as well as the Commuter Rail Safety Subcommittee. He also provides industry leadership and expertise on panels and working groups, including the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) Safety Standards working group. Further, Alberts plans and executes all APTA safety committee meetings, conference panels, and working groups that deal with safety.

POLLY HANSON is Director of Security, Risk and Emergency Management at the American Public Transport Association. To strengthen and improve public transportation, Hanson coordinates with stakeholders to develop transit security, risk and emergency management standards and policies. She was previously the Chief of Police for Amtrak where she led a national police department protecting more than 30 million passengers. Prior to Amtrak, she was a career SES serving as the Director of the Office of Law Enforcement and Security for the Department of the Interior. At the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington D.C., Hanson was the Executive Director, Strategic Services Bureau, where as a civilian Assistant Chief she oversaw the development of policy and procedures, tactical crime analysis and research, strategic planning, applicant and promotional testing, the FOIA office and performance management.