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RESOLUTION R-2021-54: A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, ADOPTING A PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AGENCY SAFETY PLAN (PTASP) AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE(S) TO IMPLEMENT THE PLAN.
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BACKGROUND: On July 19, 2018, FTA published the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) Final Rule (49 CFR Part 673), which requires certain operators of public transportation systems that receive federal funds under FTA's Urbanized Area Formula Grants to develop safety plans that include the processes and procedures to implement Safety Management Systems (SMS).
The rule applies to all operators of public transportation systems that are recipients and sub-recipients of federal financial assistance under the Urbanized Area Formula Program (49 U.S.C. § 5307). On May 22, 2019, the Governor of Oklahoma designated the City to be a direct recipient of federal funds to be used for the provision of public transportation services effective upon the date the FTA formally approves the City eligible to receive such federal funds. On June 20, 2019, the FTA formally designated the City to be the direct recipient of such federal public transportation funds.
The PTASP must include safety performance targets and transit operators also must certify they have a safety plan in place meeting the requirements of the rule by December 31, 2020. The plan must be updated and certified by the transit agency annually.
DISCUSSION: On May 22, 2019, the Governor of Oklahoma designated the City to be the direct recipient of federal funds to be used for the provision of public transportation services effective upon the date the FTA formally approves the City eligible to receive such federal funds. On June 20, 2019, the FTA formally designated the City to be the direct recipient of such federal public transportation funds.
As a small public transportation provider that does not operate rail, the City of Norman could have the state draft the safety plan on their behalf, or they may opt to draft their own safety plan. Because the City is still in the early stages of operating a transit system, City staff chose to rely on the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) and their expertise in drafting the PTASP. Over the past few months, staff from the City, EMBARK, ODOT, and ODOT’s consultant have worked to produce the attached ODOT group Agency Safety Plan that includes the City of Norman and City of Edmond.
The City of Norman is committed to making safety a top priority of transit service and to achieving an optimum level of safety through a cooperative effort with its contractor EMBARK in compliance with the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan.
An example of a key policy in this PTASP is the City’s current safety precautions to address the pandemic, COVID-19. This is one of the many critical policies designed to protect our public transportation customers, City staff, and EMBARK staff.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of Resolution R-2021-54, adopting the ODOT group Agency Safety Plan and authorizing the City Manager or his designee(s) to carry out the implementation of the plan.