November/December 2023 - 25

Moving to a more local level, boards of directors, including
those at New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) and TriMet, have taken
steps in the past year to empower their agencies to suspend or
ban offenders from using transit in their jurisdictions under
certain circumstances, such as assaults on operators or passengers,
while also preserving avenues to appeal these potential
suspensions or bans.
TriMet's amended code expands the types of offenses that
can result in long-term exclusions, including those that stretch
from six months to a lifetime ban. Felonies were included
under the scope of the previous long-term exclusion policy,
but attempted felonies and Class A misdemeanors-the most
serious category, which includes fourth-degree assault and
some bias crimes-were not. These types of crimes are now
eligible for longer exclusions under the amended code.
NJ Transit adopted regulations in July 2023 that established
a procedure by which the agency is able to administratively
suspend ridership privileges for individuals who assault transit
employees. The regulations create progressive sanctions,
with the length of the suspension increasing with each ensuing
offense and provide due process to individuals facing
a suspension. The rules also set procedures for the creation
of a Ridership Appeal Board, when necessary, to review initial
determinations made by NJ Transit. The regulations are
supported by legislation signed into law in January 2022 that
enables NJ Transit and other carriers to suspend or prohibit
individuals who commit assaults against employees.
Moving to the federal level, the Federal Transit Administration
(FTA) recently issued two Notices of Proposed Rulemaking
(NPRM) pertaining to transit safety. In a proposal issued at the
end of October, FTA would update the Public Transportation
Safety Certification Training Program regulation that would
build upon existing training requirements for safety professionals
in rail transit agencies and ensures the training curriculum is
more responsive to evolving industry needs. According to FTA,
the proposed changes in the NPRM would expand refresher
training requirements for mandatory participants and allow
for greater flexibility in the curriculum to address changing
industry training needs. The NPRM would also streamline administrative
requirements to help ensure individuals who serve
in designated roles are enrolled in the program and complete
training requirements on time.
A second NPRM issued in mid-November would give State
Safety Oversight Agencies (SSOAs) the right to inspect rail transit
agencies without warning, require agencies to collect metrics
and data that better explain rail transit safety and require SSOAs
to create an inspection program to decrease risk.
Following issuance of the SSOA proposal, FTA Administrator
Nuria Fernandez said, " We intend to make transit one of the
safest forms of surface transportation, even safer. "
Beyond proposed rules changes, FTA is looking to research
efforts to bolster transit safety initiatives throughout the U.S.
In late August, FTA awarded a $500,000 research grant to the
University of South Florida to identify safety risks for transit
workers and riders and determine the most effective strategies
to minimize them. The grant award is the first phase of FTA's
Transit Worker and Rider Safety Best Practices initiative. AfL.A.
Metro Ambassador Jose Orlando speaks with a rider at
Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station.
Photo: Mey Lyn Mitteenn/L.A. Metro
Measuring the impact of L.A.
Metro's Ambassador Program
63% of L.A. Metro survey respondents report
transit ambassadors makes them feel safer.
61% of L.A. Metro survey respondents want to
see more transit ambassadors on the system.
54% of L.A. Metro survey respondents report transit
ambassadors make them want to use transit more.
ter identifying best practices, a second
phase of research will provide technical
and financial support to the transit industry
and supportive organizations to
pursue innovative approaches to reduce
safety hazards affecting workers, riders
and transit systems.
Technology boosting security
On the security side of the equation, transit
systems have taken steps to improve
lighting at stations, equip employees
and security personnel with additional
communication tools and piloted components,
including operator barrier doors
and new fare gates to bolster security
of systems.
In March 2023, the Washington Metropolitan
Area Transit Authority (WMATA)
Metro Transit Police Department
(MTPD) launched its Body-Worn Camera
Program, which will rollout body-worn
cameras in stages to MTPD officers, sergeants
and lieutenants who are trained in
the equipment. The body-worn cameras
will supplement the more than 20,000
cameras WMATA has throughout the
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 | MassTransitmag.com 25
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November/December 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November/December 2023
