transit asset management
In 2016, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) released a final rule that required transit providers to develop and implement transit asset management (TAM) plans. TAM plans are a tool that transit providers use to maintain and improve their capital assets. They must include an asset inventory, condition assessment of assets, and a prioritized list of investments to maintain and improve current capital assets.
TAM plans must also establish performance targets and identify paths to achieving these targets. The TAM Final Rule specifies four performance measures, which apply to four TAM asset categories: rolling stock (vehicles that provide passenger service), equipment (nonrevenue service vehicles), facilities, and infrastructure (rail fixed guideway systems).
The TAM Final rule divides transit providers into two categories based on size of fleet: Tier I and Tier II. Tier I providers must develop their own individual TAM plan; Tier II providers have the option of developing their own individual TAM plan or adopting group TAM plans developed by NCDOT for Tier II providers.
Of the five public transit agencies that operate within BGMPO, PART and GoTriangle are Tier I providers, while Link Transit, ACTA and Orange County Public Transportation are Tier II providers.
safety
In 2018, the FTA established the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) Final Rule. Under this rule, transit agencies are required to develop safety plans that can measure transit safety performance. All transit operators that are recipients and sub-recipients of federal financial assistance under the Urbanized Area Formula Program (Section 5307) must complete these plans and adopt transit safety targets. The primary safety performance measures for transit agencies are:
- Fatalities: total number of reportable fatalities and rate per total vehicle revenue miles by mode.
- Injuries: total number of reportable injuries and rate per total vehicle revenue miles by mode.
- Safety Events: total number of reportable events and rate per total vehicle revenue miles by mode.
- System Reliability: mean distance between major mechanical failures by mode.
Once transit providers adopt their individual targets, BGMPO coordinates with these providers to develop our own public transportation safety targets for the region. These performance targets and goals will then be integrated into our planning documents, including the TIP.