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HomeMy WebLinkAbout25-236 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-236 A RESOLUTION APPROVING ST. LUCIE COUNTY'S PROPOSED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AGENCY SAFETY PLAN IN CONFORMANCE WITH AND AS REQUIRED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S FINAL RULE ( C.F.R. PART 673) WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida, has made the following determinations: 1. St. Lucie County BOCC operates the public transportation system known as Area Regional Transit. 2. The U.S. Department of Transportation, by and through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), provides funding and/or financial assistance to transit providers to, among other things, develop new transportation systems and improve, maintain and operate existing systems. 3. St. Lucie County is a direct recipient of FTA funding and/or financial assistance and, as such, must comply with FTA rules and regulations, more particularly, as set forth in 49 C.F.R. Part 673 et seq.(Final Rule). 4. The Final Rule requires recipients of FTA grant funds and/or financial assistance under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 5307 who operate a public transportation system to develop a Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) that includes the processes and procedures necessary for implementing Safety Management Systems (SMS). 5. The SMS components of the Safety Plan include, without limitation, safety management policy, safety risk management, safety assurance, and safety promotion. 6. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law amends FTA's final rule under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 5329(d)(5) to require recipients receiving Section 5307 funding and serving an urbanized area greater than 200,000 to establish a Safety Committee by July 31, 2022. As such the County will be utilizing MV Transportation's previously established Committee consisting of three management and three frontline employee representatives. 7. The County, by and through the Transit Department, in furtherance of the objectives of 49 C.F.R. Part 673 et seq., has drafted its Safety Plan pursuant to the Final Rule, such Safety Plan attached hereto as Exhibit "A". NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida: 1. The County Executive, together with the Board of County Commissioners, support the County's continued participation in approved FTA services, programs, and activities, as well as continue to be a recipient of FTA funding and/or financial assistance. 1 2. The County Executive, together with the Board of County Commissioners, support and approve the submission by The St. Lucie County Transit Department. 2 After motion and second, the vote on the resolution was as follows: Chair Jamie Fowler AYE Vice-Chair Larry Leet AYE Commissioner James Clasby AYE Commissioner Erin Lowry AYE Commissioner Cathy Townsend AYE PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 9th day of December 2025. ATTEST: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS / ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA _�. .; . .:.� . BY: DEPUTY CLERK ,ct S7,9 CH IR y APPR VED AS TO FORM as , o* AND CORRECTNESS: AOC OUNTY ORNEY 3 Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan Area Regional Transit St Lucie County Public Transportation �4o ILCBC[E C®UN-rY F L O R L * A Updated November 2025 Page 11 Table of Contents Section 1. Transit Agency Information 5 General Information 6 Section 2. Plan Development, Approval, and Updates 7 Section 3. Safety Performance Targets 8 Section 4. Safety Risk Reduction 10 Section 5. Safety Management Policy 11 Safety Management Policy Statement 11 Safety Management Policy Communication 14 Authorities, Accountabilities, and Responsibilities 15 Accountable Executive (AE)- 15 Chief Safety Officer(CSO) 15 Role of Staff to Develop and Manage Safety Management Systems (SMS) 16 Accountable Executive (AE) 16 Chief Safety Officer(CSO) 16 Safety Committee 16 Managers and Key Staff 16 Supervisors 17 Employees 17 Employee Safety Reporting Program (ESRP) 17 Hazard Reporting Process 18 Immediate Action Required 18 Delayed Action Required 19 Role of Supervisor 19 Area Regional Transit Responsibility 19 Section 6. Safety Risk Management 20 Safety Hazard Identification 20 Personnel 20 Assets 21 Transit Asset Management 21 System 22 Hazard Identification Procedure 22 Safety Risk Assessment 23 Page ) 2 Safety Risk Mitigation 25 Strategies to Reduce Exposure to Infectious Disease 25 Section 7. Safety Assurance 26 Safety Performance Monitoring and Measurement 26 Safety Committee 27 Section 8. Assault on Transit Workers 29 Safety Risk Assessment for Assault on Transit Workers 29 Maintenance 30 Maintenance Standards and Procedures 30 Operator Inspections 31 Daily Servicing and Inspections 31 Mileage-Based Maintenance Inspections 31 Operations 31 Facility Monitoring 31 Frequency 31 Reporting 32 Hazard Resolution 32 Follow-up 32 Documentation 32 Employee Hazard Reporting 32 Loss Reports 32 Route/Operations Safety 32 Safety Events 32 Accident and Incident Reporting Process 33 Notification 33 At-Scene Procedures 33 Investigation 34 Accident Review Process 34 Accident Review Committee 34 Hazard Resolution 34 Follow-up 35 Internal Reporting 35 Documentation 35 3 Continuous Improvement of Safety Performance 35 Maintenance 35 Operations 35 Safety 36 9. Safety Promotion 37 Operator Selection 37 Hiring Practices 37 Training 38 Initial Bus Operator Training 38 Annual Training for All Bus Operators 39 Injury and Illness Prevention Training 40 Emergency Response Planning and Coordination 41 System Modification Design Review and Approval 41 General Process 41 Modification Design Review 41 Modification Design Approval 42 Monitoring 42 Documentation 42 Routes 42 Additional Information 43 Appendix 1 44 Appendix 2 48 Appendix 3 50 Appendix 4 51 Appendix 5 52 Appendix 6 53 Appendix 7 54 Page 14 Section 1. Transit Agency Information St Lucie County has provided public transportation services since 1990 and currently has three modes of transportation —traditional fixed-route service, on-demand microtransit service, and door-to-door, paratransit service provided through a contract with MV Transportation Services. The County has also added a lineup of innovative, non-traditional mobility services to take advantage of emerging technologies and adapt to changing travel patterns. Area Regional Transit is the County's fixed-route transit service, offering eight routes that run on one- hour headways. Most routes operate from 6 a.m.to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m.to noon and 1-4 p.m. on Saturdays. In addition,the County provides demand-response, door-to-door paratransit services throughout the County to qualified seniors and people with disabilities. Residents must be certified as Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) or meet the criteria of the Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA). The County also offers non-traditional public transportation services. In 2017,the St. Lucie County Department of Community Services began operating a demand-response,TD service pilot program known as Direct Connect. This service provides essential and life-sustaining trips during hours that regular public transit and paratransit do not operate. Direct Connect fills evening and weekend service gaps, enabling the County's TD population to have access to public transportation services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Each of these services is described in more detail on the following page.The County also launched a pilot micro-transit program in December of 2019 and currently operates three microtransit zones. On September 1st, 2017,the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners authorized a multi-year pilot program making the entire county transit system fare-free, eliminating the farebox on both fixed- route and paratransit buses. A Florida Department of Transportation Service Development Grant, along with lower administrative costs realized by no longer collecting fares,offsets a substantial portion of the funding costs. Area Regional Transit serves a portion of the large, urbanized area of Port St. Lucie that falls within St. Lucie County. Page 15 General Information St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners -Area Regional Transit Accountable Executive: Transit Director Chief Safety Officer: Transit Operations Manager Address: 2300 Virginia Ave Fort Pierce, FL 34982 Phone:(772) 462-1798 Website: www.SLCART.org Modes of Service: Fixed Route, Microtransit and Demand Response contracted through MV Transportation FTA Funding Sources: FTA Section 5307, FTA Section 5310, FTA Section 5339, FTA Section 5311 Modes of Service Directly Provided: ®Fixed Route Bus ®Demand Response ®Microtransit AREA REGIONAL TRANSIT does not provide transit services on behalf of another transit agency or entity. The Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan is published on the Area Regional Transit website: www.SLCART.org Page 16 Section 2. Plan Development, Approval, and Updates Name of Entity That Area Regional Transit—St. Lucie County Public Transportation System Drafted This Plan Signature of Accountable Executive Date of Signature Signature by the Accountable Executive Adolfo Covelli, Transit Director Name of Individual/Entity That Approved This Date of Approval Plan Approval by the Board St. Lucie County Board of County of Directors or an Commissioners Equivalent Authority Relevant Documentation(title and location) St Lucie County Board of County Commissioners (See Appendix 5-St. Lucie County BOCC Resolution of approval) Safety Committee Relevant Approval Documentation Date of Approval Approval See Appendix 4 11/17/2025 Name of Individual/Entity That Certified This Plan Date of Certification Certification of /2 942/tif. 11/16/2025 Compliance Tracy Jahn, Transit Operations Manager Relevant Documentation(title and location) PTASP/SMS Document located in Transit Director's Office Version Number and Updates (Record the complete history of successive versions of this plan). Version Section/Pages Affected Reason for Change Date Issued Number Entire Plan Document Initial Plan Document 12/3/2020 2 Pages: 7,8,24,25 Annual Update/BIL requirements 2/21/2023 3 Pages:5,6,8,9,10 Annual Update 3/29/2024 4 Pages: 7,8,9 Annual Update 3/31/2025 5 Pages: 2,3, 5- Updated Plan 11/17/2025 13,16,17,20, 25-30, Annual Review and Update of the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan Describe the process and timeline for conducting an annual review and update of the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan. Created in 2020, St. Lucie County, Area Regional Transit's Public Transportation Agency Plan (PTASP)will continue to be updated/reviewed annually by the Safety Committee, the Chief Safety Officer, the Board of County Commissioners, and the Accountable Executive before January 1st of each year. The approval process is as follows: Page 17 1)The Safety Committee will review, make recommendations as needed, and approve 2)The Chief Safety Officer will approve the final draft 3) The final draft of the Plan is submitted by the Chief Safety Officer to the St. Lucie County BOCC and approved via Resolution (see Appendix 5) The Accountable Executive(Transit Director) will approve and sign the updated PTASP into effect. In addition to the annual review and update process,the PTASP is also reviewed/updated when the approaches in the Plan do not effectively mitigate safety deficiencies, there are new FTA requirements/directives published, there are changes to the delivery of transportation services, there is a substantial change in financial resources available to St. Lucie County, and/or there is a significant change to St. Lucie County's organizational structure. St. Lucie County's PTASP incorporates reference Appendices 1-7. ® The Accountable Executive confirms that Area Regional Transit's PTASP addresses all applicable requirements and standards as outlined in 1. FTA's Public Transportation Safety Program and, 2.The National Public Transportation Safety Plan, 3. PTASP documents must be made available upon request by the FTA or other Federal entity, or a State Safety Oversight Agency having jurisdiction. A transit agency must maintain these documents for a minimum of three years after they are created. Section 3. Safety Performance Targets The following Performance Targets are aligned with the National Public Transportation Safety Plan supporting the four measures: Fatalities, Injuries, Safety Events&System Reliability. The PTASP Safety Committee reviews the targets yearly and recommends new targets. 1. Fatalities (total number of reportable fatalities and rate per total vehicle revenue miles)-A death or suicide confirmed within 30 days of a reported event. It does not include deaths in or on transit property resulting from illness or other natural causes. Reported in National Transit Database (NTD) data sheet S&S-40. 2. Injuries (total number of reportable injuries and rate per total vehicle revenue miles)—Injury is defined as any damage or harm to persons because of an event that requires immediate medical attention away from the scene. Reported in National Transit Database(NTD)data sheet S&S-40 for major event and SS-50 for non-major event. 3. Major Events (total number of reportable events and rate per total vehicle revenue miles)— Major Event is defined as a safety or security event that occurs on transit right-of-way or infrastructure, at a transit revenue facility, or during maintenance activities. This includes incidents that result in a fatality confirmed within 30 days of the event, an injury requiring immediate medical attention away from the scene for one or more persons, property damage equal to or exceeding$25,000, collisions involving transit revenue vehicles that require towing away from the scene for a transit roadway vehicle, or an evacuation for life safety reasons and rate per total vehicle revenue miles by mode. Reported in National Transit Database(NTD) data sheet S&S-40 for major event and SS-50 for non-major event 4. Collision Rate (the number of collisions that occur between transit vehicles and other vehicles, objects, or individuals) 5. Assaults on Transit Workers (a circumstance where an individual knowingly,without lawful authority or permission, and with intent to endanger the safety of any individual, or with Page 18 reckless disregard for the safety of human life, interferes with, disables, or incapacitates a transit worker while performing their duties. The definition includes both physical and non- physical assaults) 6. System Reliability/Major Mechanical Failure(mean distance between major mechanical failures by mode) - Major mechanical failure is defined as a failure of some mechanical element of the revenue vehicle that prevents the vehicle from completing a scheduled revenue trip or from starting the next scheduled revenue trip because actual movement is limited or because of safety concerns. Reported in National Transit Database (NTD)data sheet S-20 Safety Performance Targets—County FY 2025 Oct 1,2024-Sep 30,2025 Performance Targets based on the safety performance measures submitted to the National Transit Database and established under the National Public Transportation Safety Plan. Mode of Total Major Major Collision Pedestrian Vehicular Fatalities Fatality Transit VRMs in Events Events Rate Collision Collision Total Rate Service 2025 Total Rate Rate Rate (S&S-40) (S-10) Fixed 696,596 1 .14 2 0 1 0 0 Route . Demand 2,482,432 3 1.2 2 0 2 0 0 Response Mode of Total Transit Injuries Injury Transit Assaults on Assaults on Transit VRMs in Worker Total Rate Worker Transit Workers Transit Workers Service 2025 Fatality (S&S-40) Injury Total(S&S-50) Rate(S&S-50) (S-10) Rate Rate Fixed 696,596 0 1 .14 0 0 0 Route Demand 2,482,432 0 2 .8 1 0 0 Response Mode of Total VRMs Transit System Reliability Total Non-Major System Reliability Transit in 2025 Major Rate "Other" Mechanical Rate Service (S-10) Mechanical (Miles Between Failures 2025 (Mean Distance Failures Major Mechanical (R-20) Between"Other" 2025 Failures) Mechanical Failures) (R-20) Fixed 696,596 7 99,513 70 9,951 Route Demand 2,482,432 7 354,633 113 21,968 Response Vehicle revenue miles (VRM)for FY26 are projected 2,631,377 miles for Para-Transit and 705,527 miles for Fixed Route,totaling 3,336,904 VRM. Performance targets for FY26 are as follows:The total major events for FY26 are projected to be 1,the total collision rate for FY26 is projected to be 4, the total pedestrian collision rate for FY26 is projected to be 0,the total vehicular collision rate for FY26 is Page I projected to be 3,the total fatalities are projected to be zero for FY26. The total reportable injuries combined are to be a goal of 1,the total transit worker fatality rate for FY26 is projected to be 0, The total assaults on transit workers for FY26 is projected to be 0. System Reliability for fixed route is projected to be 97,522 miles between major mechanical failures and for Para-Transit 347,540 miles between major mechanical failures. System Reliability for fixed route is projected to be 9,801 miles between non-major mechanical failures and for Para-Transit 21,630 miles between non-major mechanical failures. Safety Performance Target Coordination Describe the coordination with the State and Transportation Planning Organization (TPO)in the selection of State and TPO safety performance targets. Area Regional Transit shares safety performance targets with the St. Lucie Transportation Planning Organization (TPO)and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)annually as part of our continued coordination of transit data. Area Regional Transit also coordinates with these agencies to the maximum extent possible in the selection of safety performance targets as required under§673.15(a) and §673.15(b), respectively. This data also includes the Transit Asset Management Plan (TAM) updates and anticipated capital replacement schedules. Targets State Entity Name Date Targets Transmitted Transmitted to the Florida Department of Transportation State Targets Transportation Planning Organization Name Date Targets Transmitted Transmitted to the St. Lucie Transportation Planning Organization Transportation Planning (St Lucie TPO) Organization Section 4. Safety Risk Reduction Requirements for carrying out the safety risk reduction program using SMS processes as detailed in § 673.25(d), associated with safety risk mitigation, and §673.27, associated with continuous improvement. St. Lucie County in coordination with MV Transportation,takes a data-driven approach in understanding performance and trends to develop an effective prevention program to improve safety. This includes evaluating the number and rates of accidents, injuries and assaults based on data collected through our reporting processes. Regular safety meetings that are hosted by MV Transportation include refresher trainings and heightened awareness of pedestrian and vehicular safety every month. St. Lucie County, together with MV Transportation and the Safety Committee will continuously review a variety of hazards and recommended mitigation strategies including but not limited to visibility impairments and assault mitigation infrastructure/technology. In order to ensure a safe work environment is established Page 110 and maintained, ideas and recommendations will be documented through SMS activities and communications. In association with MV Transportation's SMS Plan, St. Lucie County ensures the reduction and mitigation of vehicular and pedestrian safety events involving transit vehicles through the following methods: Reviews: • Lytx DriveCam scored or coachable events—driver specific or aggregated trends of at-risk behaviors • Monthly performance or quarterly reviews of both leading and lagging indicators Observations: • Road observations ("follow-behinds")and ride checks • Customer/passenger comments • Third-party notifications Audits and Inspections: • Monthly facility inspections • Daily vehicle inspection reports(DVIR) • Daily walk-throughs • Pull-out procedures • New driver assessments (Safety Policy S-37) • Refresher training(Safety Policy S-12) • Annual safety director audits • Maintenance audits Investigations: • Accident and incident investigations • Injury root cause investigations If the agency does not meet an established safety performance target set by the Safety Committee for the risk reduction program a corrective action plan will be developed and reviewed quarterly by the Safety Committee and St. Lucie County to ensure that mitigations have been put in place to reach the safety performance targets. *For more information regarding the reduction and mitigation of assaults on transit workers,visit section 8. Section 5. Safety Management Policy Safety Management Policy Statement Area Regional Transit recognizes that the management of safety is a core value of our business. The management team at St Lucie County-Transit Department and their contracted service provider, MV Transportation Services, will embrace the Safety Management Systems (SMS). They Page 111 are committed to developing, implementing, maintaining, and constantly improving processes to ensure the safety of our employees, customers,and the public. All management and frontline employees are committed to safety and understand that safety is the primary responsibility of all employees. This Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP)describes the policies, procedures, and requirements to be followed by management, maintenance, and operations personnel to provide a safe environment for Area Regional Transit employees, customers, contractor's employees and the public. The goal of this program is to eliminate the human and fiscal cost of avoidable personal injury and vehicle accidents. Each department has a responsibility under the PTASP. The Department Director and Contractor staff shall provide the continuing support necessary to achieve the PTASP objectives. A key to the success of this effort is for employees to be aware that they are accountable for safely performing the requirements of their position. The success of the program also depends on all frontline employees actively identifying potential hazards and making a commitment to the safety of others. Pursuant to the amended 49 U.S.C. §5329(d),the St. Lucie County Transit Department has elected to utilize the MV Transportation Division 598(St. Lucie County)Safety Committee to represent the County. This site-specific Safety Committee is appropriately scaled to size,scope, and complexity of the transit agency and consists of three management(General Manager, Operations Manager, Maintenance Manager) and three frontline employees (Driver, Driver, Maintenance Technician). Area Regional Transit employees, and contractor employees must be aware that decisions and actions often affect the safety of those in other operations. By following the processes described in the PTASP, Area Regional Transit will continue to improve performance and the safety of the system while creating a culture of safety. Our contractor, MV Transportation, has defined this process in the SMS plan. Area Regional Transit is committed to: • Communicating the purpose and benefits of the SMS to all staff, managers, supervisors, and employees. This communication will specifically define the duties and responsibilities of each employee throughout the organization. All employees will receive appropriate information and SMS training. • Providing appropriate management involvement and the necessary resources to establish an effective reporting system will encourage employees to communicate and report unsafe work conditions, hazards, or at-risk behavior to the managementteam. • Identifying hazardous and unsafe work conditions and analyzing data from the employee reporting system. After thoroughly analyzing the provided data,the transit operations division will develop processes and procedures to mitigate safety risks to an acceptable level, as identified in the MV Transportation SMS Plan. • Ensuring that no action will be taken against employees who disclose safety concerns through the reporting system unless disclosure indicates an illegal act, gross negligence, or deliberate or willful disregard of regulations or procedures. • Establishing Safety Performance Targets (SPT) that are realistic, measurable, and data- driven. • Continually improving our safety performance through management processes that ensure appropriate safety management action is taken and is effective. Page I12 Area Regional Transit's Goals for Safety are established as follows: • Operate a transportation system that achieves an optimum level of safety, exceeding the safety performance of other transit systems of a similar size in the United States. • Identify and evaluate, then eliminate or control hazards to employees, customers, and the public. • Meet or exceed all government and industry occupational health and safety standards and practices. • Maximize the safety of future operations by affecting the design and procurement processes. The objectives of the PTASP are the means of achieving its goals. They also provide a method of evaluating the effectiveness of the Area Regional Transit's safety efforts. The Contractor also has an Account Executive and Safety Officer who will meet with or notify the County Safety Officer of any concerns. The PTASP objectives are: • Integrate safety management and hazard control practices within each of Area Regional Transit's departments. • Assign responsibilities for developing, updating, complying with, and enforcing safety policies, procedures, and requirements. • Verify compliance with Area Regional Transit's safety policies, procedures, and requirements through performance evaluations, accident/incident trends, and internal audits. • Investigate all accidents/incidents, including identifying and documenting the causes for implementing corrective action to prevent a recurrence. • Increase investigation and systematic documentation of near misses. • Identify, analyze, and resolve safety hazards promptly. • Minimize system modifications during the operational phase by establishing and utilizing safety controls at system design and procurement phases. • Ensure that system modifications do not create new hazards. • Provide training to employees and supervisors on the safety components of their job functions. Area Regional Transit takes these commitments seriously as the lives of Area Regional Transit riders, employees, and the public depends on Area Regional Transit's ability to operate in a culture of safety. Accountable Executive means a single, identifiable person who has ultimate responsibility for carrying out the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan of a public transportation agency; responsibility for carrying out the agency's Transit Asset Management Plan;and control or direction over the human and capital resources needed to develop and maintain both the agency's Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan, in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 5329(d), and the agency's Transit Asset Management Plan in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 5326. Accountable Executive. The transit agency must identify an Accountable Executive.The Accountable Executive is accountable for ensuring that the agency's SMS is effectively implemented,throughout the agency's public transportation system.The Accountable Executive is accountable for ensuring action is Page I13 taken, as necessary,to address substandard performance in the agency's SMS. The Accountable Executive may delegate specific responsibilities, but the ultimate accountability for the transit agency's safety performance cannot be delegated and always rests with the Accountable Executive. Accountable Executive Date Safety Management Policy Communication Area Regional Transit realizes the importance of ensuring its employees and riders are aware of safety management policies and procedures to manage the system's day-to-day operations effectively. To do this, Area Regional Transit relies on several forms of effective communication. Employee Communication:Area Regional Transit is constantly evaluating existing policies and procedures to verify their effectiveness. Area Regional Transit management seeks input from all contractor staff to determine if a change is necessary based on trends, data analysis, operational changes, or new assets. Several methods are used to communicate policy and procedure changes, including: • Employee memorandum through a paycheck, daily manifest of work orders, and agency meetings • Bulletin Board notices • Departmental meetings New policies and procedures are incorporated into orientation training for new employees as well. Depending on the importance of the policy or procedure change, an acknowledgment signature is required by all employees verifying his or her understanding of the change. St. Lucie County verifies this during file review and site visits as part of their contractor oversight procedure. Communicating with Riders: If a rider policy is changed or added, Area Regional Transit notifies riders through the following methods: • Notice posted on vehicle and facilities including effective date and whom to contact for more information • Changes to digital and printed rider guidance, including schedules and ride guides as appropriate • Public Meetings • Website and Social Media • Any services that are impacted by policies changes will include outreach as required by Federal Guidance Page I14 Authorities, Accountabilities, and Responsibilities As mentioned in the Safety Policy Statement,the ultimate authority for the success of this PTASP falls to the Accountable Executive (AE). The Chief Safety Officer(CSO),the administration, and the management team and employees fulfilling their commitment to safety on a day-to-day basis support the AE. Accountable Executive (AE): The Accountable Executive will determine, based on feedback from senior staff and contractor staff, the level of Safety Management System principles to maintain to ensure a safe work environment, rider experience,and community safety. Through its contract services provider, Area Regional Transit's AE is committed to providing employees with the tools and training needed to be successful and safe in their roles with Area Regional Transit. The AE will continually strive to create a culture of safety among the employees, and Area Regional Transit expects each employee to play a role in maintaining a safe workplace. Area Regional Transit's AE will be responsible for developing an annual transportation budget to provide the necessary funding to support training for new hires and experienced staff while also maintaining assets in a State of Good Repair(SGR)or replacing it if it is no longer able to function as originally intended. The current Accountable Executive, is also the Transit Director, is responsible for implementation and changes to this Plan. Chief Safety Officer (CSO): Area Regional Transit will manage the day-to-day adherence to the Safety Plan and,while in this role, report directly to the AE. As CSO,this individual will monitor safety and security throughout the organization, including sub-contractors. All departments have been notified of the CSO's role and the established reporting requirements relating to safety-related matters. The Contractor Account Executive will meet with the Chief Safety Officer to adhere to the PTASP requirements. Area Regional Transit's CSO will be responsible for the following: • Developing and maintaining SMS documentation • Directing hazard identification and safety risk assessment • Monitoring safety risk mitigation activities • Providing periodic reports on safety performance • Briefing the Accountable Executive on SMS implementation progress • Planning safety management training Page 115 Role of Staff to Develop and Manage Safety Management Systems (SMS) Accountable Executive (AE) The Accountable Executive (AE), who also serves as Transit Director, has the ultimate responsibility for carrying out the PTASP and ensuring it is effectively implemented through the following authorities, accountabilities and responsibilities under this plan: • Authority to control and direct the human and capital resources needed to develop and maintain the agency's PTASP in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 5329(d). • Designating and overseeing an adequately trained Chief Safety Officer(CSO)who is a direct report. • Ensuring that safety risk mitigations are effectively implemented. • Receiving and considering all other safety risk mitigations recommended by the Safety Committee. • Implementing safety risk mitigations for the safety risk reduction program that are included in the PTASP under§673.11(a)(7)(iv). • Receiving and considering all other safety risk mitigations recommended by the Safety Committee. The Contractor also has an Account Executive which is defined in the Contractor's SMS plan as the General Manager. Chief Safety Officer (CSO) For purposes of managing the SMS and PTASP,the CSO will report directly to the AE to determine strategy, policy, and goals for maintaining safety and security for passengers, employees, and the public. The CSO will monitor day-to-day operations and work with staff to identify and mitigate risk through evaluation,feedback, and data analysis. The Contractor also has a Safety Officer which is defined in the Contractor's SMS Plan as the Safety Manager. Safety Committee The primary responsibility of the MV Transportation Safety Committee is to review and approve the PTASP and any updates before approval by the Board of County Commissioners. Updates are to include: • Setting annual safety performance targets for the safety risk reduction program. • Identifying and recommending safety risk mitigations necessary to reduce the likelihood and severity of potential consequences identified through the agency's safety risk assessment. • Identifying safety risk mitigations that may be ineffective, inappropriate, or were not implemented as intended. • Identifying safety deficiencies for purposes of continuous improvement. Managers and Key Staff Area Regional Transit's contract managers and key staff will be responsible for maintaining high standards of safety, customer service, and security. The Employee Safety Reporting Program (ESRP)will define the employees' role to identify and mitigate risk through open communication to managers and superiors, including the CSO and AE. Administrative staff will be instrumental in ensuring action is taken Page j 16 to reduce risk, and the whole system is continuously monitored to ensure actions are effective and appropriate. Supervisors Supervisors are responsible for the safety performance of all personnel and equipment under their supervision.They are responsible for the initial investigation of all accidents and incidents and reporting these accidents and incidents to the Human Resources, Risk Management, and Transportation Operations Department. Employees All Area Regional Transit/MV Transportation personnel are responsible for performing their work safely and for following established safety-related rules, procedures, and work practices. All accidents, incidents, and hazards must be reported to their supervisor per established requirements to protect themselves, co-workers,customers, facilities, and equipment. Area Regional Transit/MV Transportation staff will be involved with updates, modifications, and implementation of the PTASP. The Local Safety Committee must review and approve before the PTASP is approved by the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners. The Safety Committee also plays a key role in setting the Safety Performance Targets. Each staff member brings a valued perspective to the development of policies and procedures they will be expected to implement. Every opportunity will be given for employees and riders to provide input to increase safety at Area Regional Transit. Those opportunities include monthly safety meetings, annual employee meetings and training, department meetings, customer and employee surveys, and an open-door policy with access to all management staff. Employee Safety Reporting Program (ESRP) As stated in the Safety Management Policy Statement,the Area Regional Transit is determined to provide a safe working environment for its employees, riders, contractor, and the public. To ensure success,Area Regional Transit has developed an ESRP to enable employees to report any risk or perceived risk to a supervisor, CSO, or member of the administration that is non-punitive. The ESRP is designed to allow employees to report safety conditions to senior management without fear of disciplinary action or termination for reporting unsafe conditions and safety hazards. However, any observable unsafe, high-risk, hazardous behavior or actions taken by employees is not protected under the ESRP and may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination as noted in the Contractor's SMS Plan. The ESRP allows each employee to report detailed information and observations, whether they are a driver in service, maintenance staff, or other on-duty employees. This program dovetails with other methods currently in place to identify hazards or threats. Those methods include but are not limited to the following: • Pre/Post Trip Inspections • Preventive Maintenance Inspections • Employee Evaluations • Facility Maintenance Plan • Service Evaluation and Planning Program Page I17 • Training Program • Rider and Public Complaint/Compliment Process • Safety and Employee Meetings • Incident/Accident Policies • Safety Committee • Transit Director Open Door Policy Hazard Reporting Process Area Regional Transit has developed a Hazard Report Form referred to as a Loss Prevention Investigation Report to identify and provide information about hazards observed by employees while on-duty. The form identifies vital information to assist employees in determining an action to mitigate the threat or hazard. This form is not intended to replace accident forms currently being used but instead used in conjunction with the accident forms. It is a proactive reporting method to identify a perceived threat or hazard, potentially endangering employees, riders, or the public. The form serves a dual role as an incident, illness, and near-miss report. The Loss Prevention Investigation Report form is located in Appendix 2 of this Plan. July 1, 2020, all Area Regional Transit employees received one hour of training on the procedures associated with the Loss Prevention Investigation Report. The training covered the following areas: • Locations of blank Loss Prevention Investigation Report • When to use a Loss Prevention Investigation Report • Capturing critical information on the form • Notification process depending on the hazard • Proper assessment of the reported hazard • Supervisor and CSO role in completing the form • Follow-up process to determine the effectiveness of mitigation The following process is used as part of the Employee Safety Reporting Program (ESRP). Immediate Action Required If you have identified a hazard, which you perceive to be a risk to yourself,fellow employees, passengers, or the public, you must report it immediately to the on-duty supervisor/dispatcher. Once reported, you must determine if immediate action is necessary to prevent additional risk. If so, communicate to the supervisor before taking action if time allows. Once the action has been taken to mitigate the potential harm to yourself, others, or property, advise a supervisor of the results of your actions once you can complete the Loss Prevention Investigation Report with complete information and give it to the supervisor on-duty. Page I18 Delayed Action Required If an employee determines immediate action is unnecessary and delays,the action is appropriate;a full report must be completed using the Loss Prevention Investigation Report and submitted to the on-duty supervisor. Role of Supervisor The on-duty supervisor is responsible for advising the employee on immediate action or delayed action to mitigate a hazard. The supervisor must then review the Loss Prevention Investigation Report to ensure all information is included, adding additional information from their perspective. Once the form is complete, it must be reviewed by the CSO to determine the action necessary, investigate the root cause of the hazard, and follow-up. The CSO is responsible for determining the status of each hazard reported. In some cases, hazards may be identified and are not able to be resolved, but actions are taken to reduce the risk of the hazard. It is Area Regional Transit's goal to eliminate all identified hazards if possible. Some hazards may require continuous monitoring to ensure the hazard does not elevate to an action level. All hazard reports will be documented and integrated into current performance measures and data collection. The CSO will track each hazard to completion and recommend policy or procedural changes if needed because of the hazard mitigation. Area Regional Transit Responsibility Area Regional Transit takes every hazard report seriously and investigates each one to determine if it is an isolated case or emerging trend requiring evaluation of policies and procedures or service modifications. Employees reporting hazards will not face disciplinary action. Area Regional Transit wants to encourage all employees to report any hazard or threat they observe and help make the Area Regional Transit system as safe as possible for its employees, riders, and the public. Employees may report the hazard to their immediate supervisor or go directly to the CSO to submit and discuss their report. The following process chart illustrates the steps taken as part of the hazard identification process through the Employee Safety Reporting Program (ESRP). Define the System *Define the physical and fun,tional characteristics,and evaluate the people,punt-times,fat ililies,equipment,and environment Identify Hazards *Identify hazards and undesiredevents *Determine the causes of hazards Resolve Hazards •Assam,ri.k or •irtiplernenl md'igalon acl inns •Ilintintte follow-up •Poi ,itl,i Irn,III 1lv,ne.. •lleteI niiii,.it J:n,.n•,it: .ir1rl11.1,.41.1(11 1 •IC1vtrw dot.t II,del.i0111r coinlnOtldl:ncs,]nd tlrtul, Page 119 Section 6. Safety Risk Management It is the policy of St. Lucie County and MV Transportation to(i) minimize injury, damages, pain and suffering for people involved in vehicular mishaps involving St. Lucie County Area Regional Transit vehicles and (ii) promptly respond, report and thoroughly investigate these occurrences. All incidents, including near misses and minor events( including assaults on Transit workers), shall be reported as soon as possible—whether or not the incident did or could have resulted in personal injuries, illnesses, or property damage. Transit vehicle operators must complete a written report on incidents and/or injuries occurring on or near the bus. These reports are to be filled out before leaving the incident scene. Simultaneously,the operator at the scene shall immediately contact Law Enforcement and MV Transportation Dispatch. Dispatch will then immediately notify the Safety Manager who notifies the St. Lucie County Transit Director, or Transit Operations Manager to provide incident details. Reports are reviewed by the Safety Manager, who determines preventability. Area Regional Transit provides training to all personnel to identify hazards and security threats while also providing tools to enable personnel to report these risks. Once the risk has been identified, Area Regional Transit assesses the risk to determine the necessary response and response time. The response may include further investigation or monitoring, action(s)to mitigate the hazard or security threat, and follow-up assessment to ensure action taken is appropriate and effective. Safety Hazard Identification: Area Regional Transit used a document called Potential Sources of Hazard Information for Bus Transit Operations Version 1(September 2019)to guide safety hazard identification. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) prepared this document to help transit agencies identify potential sources of hazards for analysis through the Safety Risk Management (SRM) process. SRM works within the Agency's Safety Management System (SMS)to help agencies assess and mitigate safety risks. Source: https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/docs/regulations-and- programs/safety/public-transportation-agency-safety-program/134116/potential-sources-hazard- information-bus-transit-operations.pdf Hazard and security threats are identified through different methods of monitoring the system. This includes system, employee, and asset assessments conducted daily and on an incremental basis. Area Regional Transit management staff in the maintenance and operations department engage in a process for identifying and assessing changes that may introduce new hazards or impact the transit agency's safety performance. Area Regional Transit conducts the following routine and random evaluations of the system in the following areas: Personnel Each Area Regional Transit employee is evaluated annually to ensure they are performing their job to the expectations of the Agency. As part of their orientation,the employee is provided training and tools to perform their job while not receiving permanent status until completing 90 days of employment. During the 90 days,the employee is evaluated to determine if they are properly prepared to perform their job. Page I20 Additional observations of the employee will be conducted throughout the year. These observations consist of one-on-one conversations with supervisors. If,through observation and feedback or annual evaluation, it is determined,the employee's performance does not meet expectations or training standards, remedial training will be provided, and additional evaluations will take place to ensure remedial training was effective. Assets Rolling stock,facilities, and equipment are monitored through a vigorous preventive maintenance plan to identify hazards and deficiencies as part of daily and scheduled inspections. Operations and Maintenance Departments coordinate the preventive maintenance program, including daily Vehicle Inspection Reports, incremental and annual inspections for facilities and equipment. The maintenance department reviews floor plan specification for new bus purchases. Transit Asset Management To meet Area Regional Transit's goal of achieving business benefits derived from an asset management approach that focuses on customer service improvements, increased productivity and cost containment, optimized resource allocation, and improvement in communications to stakeholders and consumers,the following objectives have been established in a Transit Asset Management Plan (TAM): • Establishes an inventory of current Area Regional Transit assets • Documents the current condition of the assets • Lists procedures in place to maintain the assets in a State of Good Repair(SGR) as defined by the FTA • Presents best practices guidelines for continuing fleet operation while maintaining effective transit asset management Area Regional Transit updates the FTA required Transit Asset Management (TAM) Plan annually with data relevant to each asset to include a condition assessment, miles (with rolling stock and non-revenue vehicles), and age as to whether the asset is in a State of Good Repair(SGR). Area Regional Transit defines the State of Good Repair(SOGR) as "the condition of an asset where the asset, at a minimum, is capable of delivering the required performance safely and reliably for a predetermined period." State of Good Repair may include short or long term, full or partial replacement/rehabilitation based on Area Regional Transit's needs. Critical to the safety and performance of a public transportation system is the condition of its capital assets—most notably, its equipment, rolling stock, infrastructure, and facilities. The TAM Plan allows Area Regional Transit management to collect and use asset condition data, set targets, and develop informed strategies to prioritize investments to meet their state of good repair goals. The following are three specific elements of the connection between Area Regional Transit's Safety Plan and Transit Asset Management Plan: 1. Area Regional Transit asset condition assessments will direct and inform Area Regional Transit's SMS of assets in poor condition and pose a risk that might negatively affect performance, reliability, or quality of service. Page 121 2. Area Regional Transit's SMS will provide valuable input to the TAM Plan and help evaluate investment strategies and prioritizing fleet,facilities, and equipment rehabilitation and replacement. 3. Area Regional Transit's Accountable Executive is ultimately responsible for risk management and safety assurance under Area Regional Transit's SMS and has a focused decision-making role in the TAM Plan and investment prioritization understanding the relationship between safety and asset management. System As part of Area Regional Transit's safety management system monitoring,the agency uses service safety evaluations when responding to an event like an accident or incident. Existing routes are examined for areas of improved safety when a safety incident or event occurs. New routes are strategically developed, with safety being the top priority and passenger access second. Area Regional Transit route planners plan and test all routes before activating the route for revenue service. All routes are reviewed periodically to determine if environmental hazards may require modification to the route, schedule, or vehicle. All frontline staff members are trained to note any changes to service, which may be considered a hazard or security threat, and through the ESRP, notify their supervisors immediately or upon return to Area Regional Transit depending on the severity of the hazard. Hazard Identification Procedure Any employee seeing something through inspection or observation they deem to be a hazard are instructed to immediately report that hazard to the immediate supervisor regardless of the perceived level of threat. Depending on the situation, either the immediate supervisor or the employee will complete a Loss Prevention Investigation Form and submit it to the CSO. If the hazard requires immediate mitigation, the employee will be instructed to reduce the risk,which may or may not alleviate the risk completely. Additional actions may be taken once the immediate risk mitigation has been taken. Some hazards may not pose an immediate risk but are still reported to the CSO, responsible for risk assessment, investigation, and mitigation strategy. In some cases, a passenger or member of the public may call Area Regional Transit a complaint about a frontline employee, which may rise to the level of dangerous behavior or actions. Area Regional Transit currently documents all customer complaints/compliments and takes appropriate action to investigate any complaints. Complaints deemed hazardous will trigger immediate action by on-duty supervisors. Loss Prevention Identification Forms will be located on all vehicles and standard safety kits for accident and incident reporting, with all Customer Service Representatives (CSR)'s, Dispatch, Operations, and Maintenance Departments. A copy of the form is in Appendix 2. The Loss Prevention Investigation Form will require the employee to briefly describe the hazard stating the date, time of day, location, and other pertinent information. The form includes a section for the CSO or immediate supervisor to document immediate action taken to reduce risk, a risk assessment chart prioritizing the risk, and a section for additional follow-up action. All forms will be processed by the CSO and summarized periodically for trend analysis and included in safety performance measures. Page 22 Safety Risk Assessment All Area Regional Transit staff are provided with training appropriate for their positions within the organization. Area Regional Transit expects its employees to respond to hazards or threats with professional judgment, as sometimes there might not be time to contact a supervisor to prevent an emergency event. If the hazard can be reported without immediate risk,the employee will make an initial assessment of the risk as part of their report. Information collected from accident reports,safety reporting programs, observations, reviews, and the investigation is used to rate the risk;this allows the agency to prioritize its risk based on severity. Risk Assessment Matrix Likelihood/ Catastrophic(1) Critical(2) Marginal(3) Negligible(4) Severity Frequent(A) HIGH HIGH HIGH MEDIUM Probable(B) HIGH HIGH MEDIUM MEDIUM Occasional(C) HIGH MEDIUM MEDIUM LOW Remote(D) MEDIUM MEDIUM LOW LOW Improbable(E) . , � . a _ .,W Safety Risk Index/Level Criteria by Index HIGH- Level 1 Unacceptable—Action Required: Safety risk must be mitigated or eliminated. Undesirable—Management Decision: MEDIUM- Level 2 Executive management must decide whether to accept safety risk with monitoring or require additional action. LOW- Le A cceptable with Review: he safety risk is acceptable pending management review. Page I 23 Once received by the CSO,the initial risk assessment may be amended, requiring an immediate, short, or long-term response. Level 1- Immediate:A deficiency,threat, or hazard requiring immediate attention to mitigate risk temporarily until further action can be taken or complete mitigation. Level 2-Short Term:Action is needed within seven days to mitigate an identified deficiency, threat, or hazard. The deficiency,threat, or hazard does not pose an immediate danger, but if no action is taken could elevate to an immediate level risk. Level 3- Long Term:A deficiency,threat, or hazard has been identified but does not pose a threat currently but could later. Continued monitoring and awareness are required. •Immediate Action Level 1 Required •Intitiate Mitigation •Short-term Action Level 2 • Required •Investigate& Mitigate Level 3 •Long-term Action Required •Continue Monitoring IMMINEMMIIIME The CSO, in coordination with staff, will investigate each identified hazard, assess the risk, and take appropriate action to mitigate the risk. Additional mitigation may be needed based on follow-up monitoring to the action taken. Identify Hazard Communicate i Assess Investigate cu irt di 11.11 MIN c..) 1 E 0 Mitigate Communicate III Evaluate Monitor Page 124 Safety Risk Mitigation In response to all identified and assessed hazards, Area Regional Transit will take steps to mitigate the hazard and reduce or eliminate the risk to employees, riders, and the public. Mitigation strategies will be dependent on the results of an investigation into the elements contributing to the risks. The investigation may include more than one department and may include interviews outside of the transit system. Actions to mitigate risk will include all employees, riders, and the public who may be impacted by either the hazard or the actions to reduce or alleviate the risk. Area Regional Transit will communicate actions to appropriate staff through methods of appropriate risk assessment. In some cases, immediate communication through two-way communications (dispatch system, text burst, email, or web alert) may be necessary. In other cases, bulletin board notices or memorandum posting may be appropriate. Once a risk mitigation strategy has been implemented,Area Regional Transit will monitor the actions to determine if full mitigation is possible and, if not, is additional action necessary to alleviate the risk or is stepped up monitoring necessary. Some risks may not be completely mitigated, but awareness of the risk is a top priority. All actions taken to mitigate risk will be documented and linked to the initial deficiency,threat, or hazard identification step. Mitigations that have been put in place from previous Safety Committee recommendations include: installation of driver barriers in vehicles, upgraded radios, new safety triangles purchased and placed in all vehicles, and updated camera systems. New safety risk mitigations recommended by the Safety Committee are: - Having more Road Supervisors doing Road Observations and being at larger populated and common stops. - Placing safety and security announcements at Intermodals and bus through PA speakers - Placing safety and/or security announcements on the electronic display inside the buses - Every hour end of the line of the route bus inspections - Assault on Worker Security Training at Safety Meetings. (Example: Hostage situation, Hostile Situation, Etc.) - Quarterly Safety Committee meeting mitigation open table talks Strategies to Reduce Exposure to Infectious Disease The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law requires transit agencies to address strategies to minimize exposure to infectious disease. ART and its contractor will remain prepared to utilize already identified mitigations or strategies related to exposure to infectious diseases through the safety risk management process and those procedures previously used to combat Covid-19. ART will continue with the following supplemental infectious disease prevention strategies: • Recommend face masking in all public transportation and indoor transportation hubs employees and customers. • Recommend physical distancing where practical. • Vehicle and facility cleaning and disinfection as established by ART. Page 125 • ART and its contractors will report employee infections to FTA as required. • Other infection prevention strategies as recommended by FTA, Florida Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). • Additional strategies may include the following as determined by ART. o Development of an ART Infectious Disease Control Plan o Continuance of personal hygiene methods o Physical distancing o Disinfecting hard surfaces touched by bus operators and passengers o Sanitizing transit vehicles and facilities o Maintaining supplies and employing use of PPE (including face masks) o Assessing potential exposures in workplace assignments o Promoting vaccinations with CDC, Florida/St. Lucie County Public Health, and ART policy guidance Section 7. Safety Assurance Safety Performance Monitoring and Measurement Safety performance monitoring and measurement involve the continual monitoring of the transit agency's activities to understand safety performance. Through these efforts, Area Regional Transit can determine whether it is meeting its safety objectives and safety performance targets, as well as the extent to which it is effectively implementing Safety Management Systems (SMS). Area Regional Transit is constantly striving to maintain the highest level of safety through its monitoring methods to include adherence to policies and procedures,safety and maintenance plans, and system and employee evaluation processes. These methods allow Area Regional Transit to determine the need to make changes to improve policies, employee training, and service delivery. Activities to monitor the system for compliance with procedures for operations and maintenance Data is constantly collected through the transit agency's Safety Assurance activities. Leading indicators (such as safety trends, safety point programs, etc.)are used to anticipate and prevent injuries and accidents. Data sources can include information collected from road observations, on board supervision, mobile blitzes, daily vehicle inspection reports, ride checks/follow behinds, or surveillance systems. The Lytx DriveCam and onboard vehicle surveillance cameras are the best tools for future mitigation success as they measure and quantify the unsafe behaviors present in existing operations. • Lytx DriveCam is used to identify behavior-based risky driving that is likely to result in near-miss incidents or collisions. Mounted on the windshield inside of St. Lucie County vehicles behind the rearview mirror,the camera is able to capture sights, sounds (inside and outside the vehicle), and video in real time. The event recorder is always recording but not saving. It only saves video and audio when activated by excessive forces, such as hard braking, swerving, or a collision. The event recorder captures the eight seconds before the activation time and four seconds afterward,then provides real-time feedback. Once collected,the recordings are downloaded to DriveCam's Data Center and the Safety Manager gets a notification through the system that an event was recorded. The event recorder will capture a wide outside view of the situation and inside view of the driver and whatever is Page I26 visible through the side and rear windows. The inside view is crucial for isolating many driver behaviors such as cell phone use, drowsiness, or inadequate mirror checks. • On board surveillance cameras are another monitoring tool that St. Lucie County utilizes to record on- board events in real-time. The interior and exterior mounted camera system captures and monitors driver and public interactions as well as day to day operations. Video management software allows us to automatically download on-board security footage,for a period of two weeks,that can be used to address and review safety concerns. These cameras affords the ability to review a safety question or occurrence with both interior and exterior footage. Activities to monitor operations to identify any safety risk mitigations that may be ineffective, inappropriate, or were not implemented as intended The Lytx DriveCam continuous monitoring system and monthly facility inspections help to ensure safety performance monitoring and measurement activities are performed to confirm that mitigations are effective, appropriate, and fully implemented. If a Lytx DriveCam identifies repeated safety hazards exhibited by the operator, a retraining protocol is performed as a means of corrective action. Should an operator still not adhere to safety practices after a retraining protocol and written/verbal warnings, their employment will be terminated.The course of corrective actions is intended to eliminate the behavior that caused the event, while Lytx DriveCam and facility inspections are used to continuously monitor the hazard. The mitigation monitoring process is performed by the St. Lucie County Transit Operations Manager. Periodic audits of safety plans, 19A records,vehicle/facility inspection reports, drug and alcohol testing results, safety training files, safety data sheets, etc. are conducted by federal and state agencies to ensure compliance with safety standards. Activities to conduct investigations of safety events, including the identification of casual factors Prior to the implementation of a proposed change in the operating environment, an assessment is carried out by using the Hazard/Risk Report form (Appendix 2)to determine if the change will impact safety performance or if there are any new hazards that will be present. If a new hazard is identified, it is put through the Safety Risk Management (SRM) process and evaluated. A risk mitigation strategy will be created or modified to mitigate risk for that change. Once the change is implemented, it will be monitored for effectiveness. Activities to monitor information reported through internal safety reporting programs The data and information collected through Safety Assurance activities will tell the St. Lucie County Transit team how they are doing and in what areas improvements can be made. Insights gained from these sources may trigger more frequent reviews and a revised strategy to ensure that mitigations are effective. Safety Committee Page I27 In February 2022,the FTA published a Dear Colleague letter to inform the transit industry about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law changes to PTASP requirements. In accordance with the law,transit agencies that serve an urbanized area (UZA) with a population of greater than 200,000 people and receive Section 5307 funding are required to establish a Safety Committee under 49 U.S.C. § 5329(d). Pursuant to the amended 49 U.S.C. § 5329(d) and in compliance with the law,the St. Lucie County Transit Department has elected to have MV Transportation's Division 598 (St. Lucie County)Safety Committee represent the County. As the largest privately-owned transportation company in North America, MV's goal is to provide the safest transportation possible in the provision of passenger transportation services. Under their own corporate obligation, Division 598 is under contractual obligation by the County to abide by all federal, state, and local regulations. Under their own corporate obligation, Division 598 was required to establish a site-specific Safety Committee. This company specific concept of a Safety Committee dates back to the original establishment of MV Transportation in 1975, however, Division 598's Safety Committee was newly revitalized in 2021 . This site-specific Safety Committee is appropriately scaled to size, scope, and complexity of the transit agency and consists of three management (Safety Manager, Operations Manager, Maintenance Manager) and three frontline employee (On Demand Driver, Fixed Route Driver, Maintenance Technician) representatives. The membership of the Safety Committee shall consist of an equal number of frontline employee representatives, selected by a labor organization representing the frontline workforce employed by the service contractor of ART;and an equal number of management representatives from ART and its contractor. The Safety Committee members are identified and volunteered by the Committee Chairperson,the General Manager, and do not receive additional compensation for their participation. In accordance with the Safety Risk Management section of this Plan,the Committee follows these procedures to identify and implement safety strategies: • The Committee is required to meet quarterly and as needed. Prior to these meetings the Safety Manager distributes an agenda (see Attachment 7)which is determined based on areas needing improvement and/or repeated issues. • The safety committee oversees procedures and processes that directly and indirectly affect the safe operation of Area Regional Transit's bus and paratransit systems. • Area Regional Transit, operated by MV Transportation, provides routine training to its employees in order to mitigate both pedestrian and vehicular accidents. As such, topic specific monthly trainings and "safety blitzes"or bimonthly "standdowns" are mandatory for all operators (veteran and new). Training is critical, which is why the General Manager monitors safety statistics/trends and responds with training accordingly. Performance targets are reviewed, and goals are set forth annually as part of the Safety Risk Management program. • The Safety Committee shall provide recommendations to St. Lucie County regarding mitigation strategies to reduce vehicular and pedestrian safety events involving transit vehicles and assaults on transit workers. St. Lucie County will include these recommendations in the updated PTASP. • The Safety Committee shall review and make recommendations for improvements in training for operators,field Supervisors,vehicle, and facility maintenance. They shall review and provide recommendations for improvements in operations and maintenance procedures and practices to include road calls and pre-trip inspections of revenue service vehicles. F i- (, I 28 • Changes to the bus system's configuration shall be reviewed by the Safety Committee for information purposes and ensure all affected areas remain in compliance with the PTASP and Configuration Management. • If requested or if the need arises,the Committee will utilize technical experts, including other transit workers,to serve in an advisory capacity who may provide additional resources and/or tools to address concerns. The Committee may also request access to all daily vehicle/facility inspection reports and/or reports filed through the ESRP program which records safety concerns and suggested recommendations. • The Safety Committee shall review and approve annual updates to the PTASP. • The Contractor's Account Executive (AE)shall oversee the Safety Committee and shall hear any disputes arising from the Safety Committee findings and recommendations. The Safety Committee will meet and conduct inspections quarterly. (The County does not have frontline employees. The County will show oversight of its contractor by review of Safety Committee Meetings.) • In the event that the Safety Committee identifies safety concerns that are not promptly addressed by immediate supervisors and/or management,they are encouraged to come forward to the Agency Accountable Executive (Transit Director). In the event that the Accountable Executive decides not to implement a suggested safety risk mitigation,the Accountable Executive must prepare a written statement explaining their decision. The Accountable Executive must submit and present this explanation to the Safety Committee and to the Agency's Board of Directors. Section 8. Assault on Transit Workers Safety Risk Assessment for Assault on Transit Workers On September 25, 2024,the FTA published its "General Directive 24" requiring all transit operators subject to the PTASP regulation to conduct a safety risk assessment of assaults on transit workers. In assessing the risk and severity of assault on transit workers, including both bus operators and transit facility workers,St. Lucie County Transit staff in coordination with the General Manager and Safety Manager of its contracted transit operator, MV Transportation, considered the following: 1. County staff and MV Transportation staff reviewed any previous history of incidents involving assault on bus operators or transit facility workers based out of the ART Facility located at 8620 LTC Parkway, Port St. Lucie, FL which houses the dispatch/operations center which may have some incidental interaction with the public. St. Lucie County Transit staff are housed at the St. Lucie County Administration Building at 2300 Virginia Ave,which houses the public facing operations including paratransit application intake and processing. 2. County staff reviewed its Safety and Security Reporting to the National Transit Database (NTD)for any previously reported major or non-major events or incidents involving assaults of transit workers including bus operators or transit facility workers dating back to 2020. Page l29 3. County staff and MV Transportation will consider current and likely future operating conditions to determine risk assessment of transit worker assault. Upon review of the items listed above, Department staff utilized the FTA provided safety risk assessment matrix Appendix 6 in order to select a likelihood and severity value for the risk of assault of transit workers while on transit vehicles as well as at revenue facilities. Following a meeting on October 16, 2025, with the General Manager and Safety Manager of MV Transportation, we selected "low"for the likelihood value and "C—May cause minor injury or minor property damage"for the severity value for the risk of assault on vehicles. While we do not have any significant history of assaults on transit workers on vehicles, the MV Transportation management team monitors any concerns raised by the operators and a discusses mitigation measures with the St. Lucie County Transit Team. Customers do not come to the facility and there is a secure lobby area so there is low risk at the operations facility. There is a security guard posted at the Fort Pierce Intermodal Facility which may be a low risk. The risk to the St. Lucie County Transit staff at the County Facility we feel is also lower due to the limited number of customers who actually come to the facility where we process paratransit applications. Given this low risk assessment for assaults taking place on vehicles,the County, in coordination with its contracted operator, will consider additional safety risk mitigation measures where appropriate. Presently, we outfit our revenue transit vehicles with interior and exterior surveillance cameras (only the minivans do not have exterior cameras) and train operators on de-escalation tactics (please remain seated,first warning, reminder of audio/video surveillance, etc.). If/when those tactics prove unsuccessful,the transit vehicle operator is then required to alert dispatch who once again announces over the radio that if the passenger does not comply with warnings, authorities will be alerted. If the passenger continues the physical/verbal abuse and does not respond to the driver's warning,the driver is required to pull over and Dispatch will alert the authorities who then respond on scene. Transit worker assault drills are also regularly conducted between dispatch, management, and drivers to prepare for potential assault situations on transit operators. New safety mitigation measures, such as posting signage on board vehicles indicating surveillance cameras are in use, will be explored by the Safety Committee. Furthermore, St. Lucie County and its transit Safety Committee will investigate offering revitalized de-escalation trainings for facility staff and vehicle operators specifically for mitigating assaults on transit workers, alongside the potential implementation of panic buttons and radio devices equipped with panic functions to enhance employee safety. Maintenance Maintenance Standards and Procedures Standards and procedures are included in the MV Maintenance Plan. In general, maintenance procedures are designed to ensure that the maintenance recommendations of the manufacturer are met, maximum efficiency in performance and operation is obtained, and maximum bus life and condition are maintained. Daily bus inspections, and active Preventive Maintenance Program, and Page 130 careful monitoring are included in procedures to ensure the safety of buses and adequacy of the Fleet Maintenance Plan. Operator Inspections All operators must perform a pre-trip and post-trip inspection to ensure that the vehicle is safe and in good operating condition. If the operator notes any defects, a Defect Slip is completed, and, depending on the severity and extent of the defect,the vehicle may be repaired or taken out of service until a repair is completed. Daily Servicing and Inspections The MV Maintenance Department inspects, and services buses used in revenue service each day. The buses are fueled and washed, all fluids are checked,tires and lugs are checked, and the vehicle is inspected for any leaks or unusual noises. The Cleaners clean the bus interiors each day. When a defect is noted, it is reported to the Lead Mechanic or Supervisor on shift so that evaluation and, if necessary, a repair can be conducted. Mileage-Based Maintenance Inspections All buses receive preventive maintenance inspections (PMI)at designated mileage intervals. Oil sampling is performed periodically for both engines and transmissions. A description of the schedule and type of inspection and service performed for each bus series is included in the MV Maintenance Plan. Operations Facility Monitoring Formal facility inspections of all Area Regional Transit facilities and grounds are conducted by Area Regional Transit Maintenance/Safety/Facilities quarterly using a facility checklist.The purpose of the inspections is to identify any unsafe or unhealthy conditions that may exist and that may require maintenance or modification. Each facility is also visually inspected for compliance with OSHA and local fire codes. Area Regional Transit's administration facility requires all visitors to check-in and provides a visit purpose. Employees are trained on procedures for visitors in the workplace, and facility access is limited through security systems. Frequency The Safety Committee conducts its safety inspections quarterly. Mechanics and Facilities Maintenance employees look for potential hazards with equipment whenever they are using that equipment.The vehicle hoists, chain pulls, and lifts in the vehicle maintenance shop are inspected annually by contractors. Preventive maintenance of equipment and facilities is performed following the manufacturer's recommended practice. Hazards are also identified by analyzing work accident trends, through Loss Prevention Investigation Forms submitted by employees. Forms are used by employees to report safety concerns and to make safety recommendations. Page I31 Reporting When deficiencies are noted during quarterly inspections,they are documented and reported to the director of the department in which the safety hazard is located. When safety hazards are noted by non-scheduled observation,they must be reported by the observer to a supervisor or CSO. Loss Prevention Investigation Forms are routed to the department, Chief Safety Officer or director best equipped to evaluate the concern and,when necessary, propose a resolution. Hazard Resolution The primary purpose of facility inspections and hazard reporting is to identify conditions that could lead to accidents and losses. Given this, all departments and employees must be involved in the Facility Inspection and the Hazard Identification and Resolution processes. Hazard resolution is related to the severity of the hazard and the probability and severity of a negative consequence. Follow-up Corrective action for a real hazard that has been identified by any established process is the responsibility of the director of the department area in which the hazard exists or the CSO. This includes arranging for the services of other Area Regional Transit departments or outside parties, as necessary,to eliminate or control the hazard.The Contractor Safety Officer will notify the County Chief Safety Officer as needed regarding follow-up. Documentation Hazards identified, proposed resolutions, and corrective actions are recorded in hard copy by the Safety Committee and maintained by CSO. All frontline personnel are responsible for monitoring safety and security as part of their respective positions. If a hazard is identified through observation or interaction with customers or the public, it is reported to the immediate supervisor and following MV's hazard reporting process. Employee Hazard Reporting Loss Reports Employees can fill out a Loss Prevention Investigation Report Form, which is turned into the affected department and the CSO, and talk with a supervisor or the Operations Manager. They can also contact a Safety Committee member, comprised of a cross-section of Area Regional Transit or MV team members. Depending on the severity/risk of the hazard identified, immediate action may be taken, or the input will be brought to the Safety Committee for discussion. Feedback will be provided to the employee on what action, if any, will be taken. All employees follow the Employee Hazard Reporting Program Policy. Route/Operations Safety Employees can fill out a Loss Prevention Investigation Report Form or discuss suggestions for making the system/route safer. Area Regional Transit and MV encourage employees to be advocates for safety while also suggesting methods of increasing performance. Management has an open-door policy and makes clear the importance of employee feedback, positive and negative. The County will monitor any contractor employee forms during regular oversight visits. Safety Events Page I32 Accident and Incident Reporting Process All accidents and loss incidents are to be investigated. Area Regional Transit's safe driving standards require the professional, safe performance of all operators. To ensure better than average safety performance, Area Regional Transit employs the National Safety Council guidelines to determine if a collision or onboard incident could have been prevented. All personnel operating any Area Regional Transit vehicle are held to this standard. The Area Regional Transit Operator's Manual includes procedures and responsibilities for accident/incident investigation. The combined manuals establish procedures for accident notification, response, and investigation. Transit Operations coordinates with outside law enforcement agencies if they investigate an event. Administrative staff coordinates with outside insurance providers and supports Area Regional Transit departments and independent investigation to manage Area Regional Transit liability and claims. Most accidents and incidents involving Area Regional Transit are relatively minor in severity and are investigated by operations field supervision. Since most accidents involve buses,this section focuses on bus accidents. However, all non-bus accidents and incidents are also investigated. Notification Bus Operators notify the operations system supervisor anytime an Area Regional Transit vehicle might have been damaged, anytime an Area Regional Transit vehicle and another vehicle come into contact, or anytime an instance occurs where a customer may have been injured. The operations supervisor will be directed to the scene of an accident. Police and ambulance will be dispatched, if necessary. The Contractor notifies the County of any incidents per the master contract guidelines. At-Scene Procedures Bus operators will adhere to the following procedures defined in the Area Regional Transit Operator's Manual: • Assist the injured • If blocking traffic,set out reflective triangles • Do not move the coach unless required to do so by an Operations Supervisor,fire or police order, or impending danger from traffic • Obtain names, addresses, and phone numbers of all witnesses • Have all customers sign the customer list • Contact dispatch for supervisor support Operations supervisors are responsible for conducting on-scene investigations of accidents and incidents. Depending on the severity and the nature of the event,various mechanisms will be used for preserving transient evidence. These may include digital photography, bus video,field sketches, other available video, interviews, and observations. Page I33 Investigation An attempt is made to complete the investigation of most accidents within three days. Operations supervisors are required to complete an Accident/Incident Report. Operators are also required to complete an Accident Information Report.The Supervisor is required to file the report and attach all relevant backup documentation for use by the Director of Operations and the CSO. A Report of Injury Form must be completed if an employee suffers an injury or illness due to an accident or incident. Accident Review Process Accident Review Committee The Accident Review Committee is comprised of five members, which include two bus Operators, a Maintenance Employee, and 2 Supervisors with the Safety Director as chairman and a staff member from the Transit Division. Accident reports and evidence are reviewed, analyzed, and each committee member confidentially decides who is responsible for an accident. Accidents and Incidents are classified as Preventable or Non-Preventable. A preventable accident is when the employee failed to do everything reasonable to prevent it, as defined by the National Safety Council. A non-preventable accident is one in which the employee was not at fault Any employee who has been determined to have had a preventable accident is informed by letter, explaining the reason for the decision and the opportunity to appeal that decision in person at the Accident Review Committee (ARC). It is the responsibility of an employee desiring to appeal to submit a letter of request to the Operations Manager, no later than ten days before the next ARC meeting. Failure to comply with the established time limits shall relinquish the employee's right to appeal. If the employee wishes to have Union representation, it is their responsibility to make contact and arrangements. An employee appealing to the committee explains the accident situation, presents any new evidence, and answers questions the members may have. After the appeal, the committee again reviews the accident circumstances and votes on a decision,which is final. The Accident Review Committee also reviews all on-the-job injury accidents resulting in lost time and or an incurred medical bill, as well as any safety issues, in efforts to reduce accident occurrences. Hazard Resolution The primary purpose of the Accident Investigation process is to determine the root cause(s)of accidents so that they may be prevented or mitigated in the future. To this end, it is crucial that all relevant departments be appropriately involved in the Process.A serious attempt is made to use lessons learned through the investigatory process to incorporate hazard resolutions into future procedures, designs, construction, modifications,training, and procurements. Page ( 34 Follow-up Follow-up in the form of corrective actions is the responsibility of the employee's director. The responsibility may be delegated to the employee's manager, supervisor, or CSO. Any disciplinary action will be assessed using the Collective Bargaining Agreement procedures or the Administrative Handbook. Disciplinary consequences for accidents may include warnings, suspensions, and discharge. Internal Reporting The Operations Supervisor is responsible for ensuring that all accident reports are completed and filed in the appropriate office. Human Resources will advise on the history of the employee if a pattern of safety events is evident. Documentation Transit Operations and Human Resources and CSO maintain the accident investigation documentation. Continuous Improvement of Safety Performance If Area Regional Transit identifies safety deficiencies as part of its safety performance assessment,Area Regional Transit will develop and carry out, under the direction of the Accountable Executive, a plan to address the identified safety deficiencies. Through a series of performance measures relative to operations, maintenance, and safety, Area Regional Transit can monitor the system's safety by identifying trends and gaps in policies, procedures,training, and monitoring efforts. The following performance measures are on a daily, monthly, and quarterly basis. Maintenance • Preventive Maintenance On-time Inspection Percentage—determines the effectiveness of the maintenance department to ensure all inspections are conducted per manufacturing and Area Regional Transit mileage intervals. • Vehicles Removed from Revenue Service—track vehicles removed from service due to a mechanical defect developed while in service requiring immediate service either on-site of failure or once returned to the facility. • Annual Vehicle Condition Assessment—through annual inspection, determines on a scale of 1-5 the overall condition of the asset. This performance measure is also used in annual updates of Area Regional Transit's Transit Asset Management Plan. Operations • Customer Complaints Per Month—tracks all customer complaints to identify areas of deficiency with vehicle, driver, or other Area Regional Transit areas. Safety-related complaints are immediately routed to a supervisor on-duty or the CSO for investigation mitigation and response. Complaints may be a result of phone calls,the website, or Area Regional Transit public forums. • On-time Performance—serves as an indicator of issues with time management, environmental factors, scheduling, and vehicle and driver performance. Page j35 • On-board Surveys—conducted annually, allow Area Regional Transit to receive rider feedback about bus operator performance, customer service, and vehicle safety. Safety • Safety Performance Measure: Major Event: (a safety or security event that occurs on transit right-of-way or infrastructure, at a transit revenue facility, or during maintenance activities. This includes incidents that result in a fatality confirmed within 30 days of the event, an injury requiring immediate medical attention away from the scene for one or more persons, property damage equal to or exceeding$25,000, collisions involving transit revenue vehicles that require towing away from the scene for a transit roadway vehicle, or an evacuation for life safety reasons and rate per total vehicle revenue miles by mode) • Safety Performance Measure:Collision Rate(the number of collisions that occur between transit vehicles and other vehicles, objects, or individuals) • Safety Performance Measure: Pedestrian Collision Rate(the frequency of collisions involving pedestrians and transit vehicles) • Safety Performance Measure:Vehicle Collision Rate: (the frequency of collisions between a transit vehicle and any other vehicle, object or person) • Safety Performance Measure: Fatalities(total number of reportable fatalities and rate per total vehicle revenue miles by mode) • Safety Performance Measure:Transit Worker Fatality Rate (total number of reportable transit worker fatalities per total vehicle revenue miles by mode) • Safety Performance Measure: Injuries (total number of reportable injuries and rate per total vehicle revenue miles by mode) • Safety Performance Measure:Transit Worker Injury Rate (total number of reportable transit worker injuries per total vehicle revenue miles by mode) • Safety Performance Measure:Assaults on Transit Workers(total number of reportable transit worker assaults and rate per total vehicle revenue miles by mode) • Safety Performance Measure: Major Mechanical Failures (Total number of major mechanical failures by mode) • Safety Performance Measure: Non-Major"Other" Mechanical Failures(Total number of non- major mechanical failures by mode) • Safety Performance Measure: System Reliability(mean distance between major mechanical failures by mode, and mean distance between non-major"other" mechanical failures by mode) Page I36 9. Safety Promotion Communication of Area Regional Transit safety and safety performance information is achieved primarily through Area Regional Transit's Safety Management Policy and includes: • Information on hazards and safety risks relevant to employees' roles and responsibilities, and • Safety actions are taken in response to reports submitted through an employee safety reporting program ESRP • The County will monitor any ESRP forms during regular oversight visits Area Regional Transit has a comprehensive safety training program for all employees and sub- contractors directly responsible for safety. Area Regional Transit's Safety program includes appropriate training for employees at all levels in all departments. Operator Selection Hiring Practices Selecting applicants best suited to excel at the Bus Operator job requirements is critical to safe transit operations.The transit Bus Operator is directly responsible for the safety of not only the passengers, but also the pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers, and all others who share the road with the transit vehicle. Area Regional Transit's hiring process includes the following components: Applications Applicants are sought through postings in traditional and culturally diverse media, referrals from current employees, posted in public facilities, a local newspaper, MV's website, and applications filed by prospective candidates when there are no positions available. The applications are screened by key personnel in Human Resources and Transit Operations. Interview After application reviews, applicants are then interviewed by a panel comprised of an Operations Supervisor,an Operator/Instructor, and an HR or other administrative staff person. The interview process is designed to evaluate a candidate's strengths in customer service,the ability to simultaneous perform tasks, conflict resolution, and the ability to perform well under temporal and interpersonal pressure. Driving Record To be eligible for hire, a candidate must submit an acceptable driving record that meets the minimum hiring requirements with Area Regional Transit. Licensing To be eligible for hire, a candidate must be able to earn a CDL with a Passenger and Air Brake Endorsement. Page I 37 Criminal Background Check To be eligible for hire, a candidate must submit to a Criminal Background Check administered by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and other state and federal agencies.The results must meet all statutory and Area Regional Transit standards for the Bus Operator position. Drug Testing To be eligible for hire, a candidate must produce a negative result for a pre-employment drug test. Physical Capacities Testing To be eligible for hire, a candidate must pass a position-specific physical capacities test. Training There are formal training programs for Bus Operators, Maintenance employees, and Operations employees. These include training classes, manuals,Area Regional Transit Standard Operating Procedures, and on-the-job training. The safety component of training is designed to make employees aware of the hazards of their jobs and the appropriate methods for controlling these hazards.The training is intended to motivate employees to work safely.The three main categories of training are(1) Initial, (2) Periodic, and (3) Remedial or Refresher. Initial Bus Operator Training New Bus Operators receive intensive training. The training is from 5 to 8-week long. The training course covers every aspect of their new job. Some components of the training are delivered in the classroom. The majority of learning occurs on the buses during off-route and on-route training. The training includes, but is not limited to, the following areas: • Operator Excellence Training • Bicycle and Pedestrian Awareness • Orientation to Area Regional Transit Bus System • Basic Bus Maneuvers • System Procedures • Communication skills • Customer Service • Accessible Service • Emergency Management • Fleet Services • Personal Safety • Health/Injury Prevention • Stress Management Page 138 • CDL Preparation • On-route Training • Road Rage/Work Place Violence • Active Shooter • Security Awareness/NTI Awareness Training • Fatigue Awareness • De-escalation Training On-route training provides real service experience with an Operator Instructor on the new operator's regularly scheduled work. The time the new employee operates the revenue route is increased daily. Each day the student receives a full review and debriefing from his or her instructor. Instructors communicate with one another regarding where additional training for new operators is required. Student rotation among the Operator Instructor group provides each student with experience across various routes,vehicles,times of day, instructional styles, and driving conditions. After the initial training, new Bus Operators receive additional support and training as needed. Annual Training for All Bus Operators Every year,each bus operator receives one full day of refresher and topical training. The training addresses, but is not limited to,the following topics: • Fatigue Awareness • Dealing With Difficult People • Resolving Conflict • Harassment • Effectively Dealing with People of Differing Ages • Proper Securement of Mobility Devices • Defensive Driving Course • Blood borne Pathogens • Safety/Security Update • Injury Prevention • Accessible Service Sensitivity • PTASP Initial Operation Supervisor Training Transit Operations Supervisors begin their career path, almost exclusively, as bus operators who first work in the position of temporary supervisor or dispatcher.A temporary supervisor performs many functions of the full supervisory position and receives training in, but not limited to,the following areas: Page I39 • Drug&Alcohol (Policy and procedures for all types of FTA-mandated testing) • Accident Investigation (based on the TSI model) • Emergency Procedures • Security Procedures • On-the-job Injury Claims • Blood Borne Pathogens • Data Entry and Recordkeeping • Sexual Harassment • Cultural Diversity • Coaching/Criticism/Discipline • Dispatch Operations • Field Operations • First Aid and Defibrillator • Basic Writing • De-Escalation • Conflict Resolution • Right to Know • Safe Place Injury and Illness Prevention Training Injury and Illness Prevention Training is directed toward achieving a safe working environment for all employees and reducing the chance of occupational-related injuries and illnesses. The majority of training targets employees working in the Maintenance and Facilities Maintenance Departments because they have the greatest exposure to occupational hazards.The program is based on applicable Federal, State, and local safety codes and regulations. Some areas addressed in training include: • Handling Hazardous Materials (Right to Know) • Slips, Trips, and Falls/Fall Protection • Personal Protection Equipment • Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and Labels • First Aid • Spotter Backing Out Vehicle from Shop Training • Fueling Procedures Propane Leak-fire Procedures • Tire Machine Safety Training Page 140 • Blood borne Pathogens • Hazardous Communication • Spill Response Emergency Response Planning and Coordination Details are contained in the Area Regional Transit Emergency Action Plan and Evacuation Request Procedures. System Modification Design Review and Approval General Process The Area Regional Transit bus system is regularly modified in response to operational experience,the addition of new types of service, and changes in service design and levels. Area Regional Transit's philosophy is to use appropriate new technologies to benefit the environment and the community it serves. The challenge is to review any proposed modification adequately before it is approved. Any proposed modification should be evaluated to ensure it is compatible with existing systems and does not introduce new hazards to the system or reduce the effectiveness of existing hazard controls. Equipment modifications may be proposed by any employee of any department that uses the equipment. Changes may also occur from an analysis of reliability performance, historical data, and available improvements in equipment design and components. Modification Design Review The director and managers shall make a review of any modification in the equipment design of the department responsible for the equipment. It is an informal practice to include human resources and operations in the review regarding any change that might affect safety.The impact on the safety of all designs and specifications should be identified and evaluated before the change is approved. Some of the areas to be considered include but are not limited to: • Hazardous Materials (handling and use) • Motor Vehicle Safety • Human Factor • Occupational Health and Safety • Materials Compatibility • Fire Protection • Lighting • Braking systems • Mirrors • Warning Devices Page I41 Modifications must not be made before determining how they might affect the safety of the system or any other systems. Other departments may evaluate a proposed change to determine its compatibility with other systems (e.g., hoists,fueling systems, communications systems).The evaluation may also include a review of applicable regulations, such as the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Regulations and the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Act. Testing may also be performed to evaluate the safety of a proposed modification. The testing of small changes may be minimal. For substantial modifications, extensive field testing, mock-ups, and structural evaluations may be employed. Modification Design Approval Final approval is generally made by either the Director of Maintenance or the Assistant Transit Director of Operations and Maintenance with the concurrence of the Chief Safety Officer(CSO)and the Accountable Executive (AE). When modifications are made by a bus manufacturer,the Director of Maintenance works with the manufacturer, and contractual changes may be made. If changes are substantial, additional training will be provided for maintenance and operation staff. Monitoring Once a modification is put in place,feedback from the operating department is solicited to evaluate the performance of the modification. Unsolicited input from the operating department and its employees (end users) is also encouraged. Depending on the nature of the modification, the Human Resources, Planning, and the Safety Committee may be involved in the process. Documentation The Maintenance Department is responsible for documenting any vehicle or facility modifications. Documentation may involve changing diagrams, schematics, manuals, service bulletins, service intervals, standard operating procedures, and Material Safety Data Sheets. Maintenance Supervisors are responsible for updating Safety Data Sheets based on input from product manufacturers. Routes The Scheduler designs Para Transit Route modifications. Planning may use a current Bus Operator to test routing. This experience-based, real-world process is designed to protect the safety of the transit bus, transit passengers, other vehicles, and pedestrians. The Scheduler informs the Operations Department and Safety Committee of any proposed route modifications. The Scheduler can request that the Committee evaluate a specific proposal, or the Committee can choose to evaluate any proposed modifications. Transit operations management may request a route modification it believes will improve operations. It may also choose to evaluate a modification that has been proposed by another department. Input from individual Bus Operators is encouraged through the Loss Prevention Investigation Form, direct communication, and periodic surveying of Operators conducted by Schedulers. Finally,the Scheduler maintains a cooperative working relationship with the appropriate planning and road departments of all municipal levels of government within which Area Regional Transit operates. Page I42 Additional Information The Area Regional Transit PTASP was developed from documents, policies, and procedures and manuals. Those documents are listed below: • Area Regional Transit Employee Handbook • Vehicle Maintenance Plan • Facility Maintenance Plan • Training Manual Page I43 Appendix 1 Glossary Accident means an event that involves any of the following:a loss of life;a report of a serious injury to a person;a collision of rail transit vehicles;a runaway train;an evacuation for life safety reasons;or any derailment of a rail transit vehicle, at any location, at any time, whatever the cause. Accident Review Committee engages in the accident review process reviewing accident reports and evidence, and each committee member confidentially decides responsibility for an accident. Accidents and Incidents are classified as Preventable or Non-Preventable Accountable Executive(AE), (typically the highest executive in the agency) means a single, identifiable person who has ultimate responsibility for carrying out the Safety Management System of a public transportation agency, and control or direction over the human and capital resources needed to develop and maintain both the agency's Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan, in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 5329(d), and the agency's Transit Asset Management Plan in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 5326. Chief Safety Officer(CSO) an individual who manages the day-to-day adherence to the Safety Plan and, while in this role, reports directly to the Accountable Executive (AE). As CSO,this individual will monitor safety and security throughout the organization, including sub-contractors. All departments have been notified of the CSO's role and the established reporting requirements relating to safety-related matters. Employee Safety Reporting Program (ESRP) a program developed to enable employees to report any risk or perceived risk to a supervisor, CSO, or member of the administration that is non-punitive. The ESRP is designed to allow employees to report safety conditions to senior management without fear of disciplinary action or termination for reporting unsafe conditions and safety hazards. Event means an accident, incident, or occurrence. Fatality means a death or suicide confirmed within 30 days of a reported event. It does not include deaths in or on transit property resulting from illness or other natural causes. Reported in National Transit Database (NTD)data sheet S&S-40 Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)the state department of transportation responsible for administering transit grant programs to eligible recipients. Hazard means any real or potential condition that can cause injury, illness, or death, damage to or loss of the facilities, equipment, rolling stock, or infrastructure of a public transportation system;or damage to the environment. Incident means any event that involves any of the following:a personal injury that is not serious;one or more injuries requiring medical transport;or damage to facilities, equipment, rolling stock, or infrastructure that disrupts the operations of a transit agency. Injury is defined as any damage or harm to persons due to an event that requires immediate medical attention away from the scene—reported in National Transit Database (NTD) data sheet S&S-40 for a major event and SS-50 for a non-major event. Page I44 Major Mechanical Failures is defined as a failure of some mechanical element of the revenue vehicle that prevents the vehicle from completing a scheduled revenue trip or from starting the next scheduled revenue trip because the actual movement is limited or because of safety concerns. Reported in National Transit Database(NTD)data sheet S-20 National Transit Database(NTD)The NTD was set up by Congress in 1974 to be the repository of data about the financial, operating, and asset conditions of American transit systems. The NTD is designed to support local, state, and regional planning efforts and help governments and other decision-makers make multi-year comparisons and perform trend analyses. OSONOC Other Safety Occurrence Not Otherwise Classified The Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP)safety plan integrates safety into all Area Regional Transit system operations.The safety plan describes the policies, procedures, and requirements to be followed by management, maintenance, and operations personnel to provide a safe environment for employees, customers,and the general public. The goal of this program is to eliminate the human and fiscal cost of avoidable personal injury and vehicle accidents. Passenger means a person other than an operator who is on board, boarding, or alighting from a vehicle on a public transportation system for the purpose of travel. Transportation Planning Organization Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) is the duly designated and constituted body responsible for carrying out the urban transportation planning and programming process for designated. Safety Assurance means the process within a transit agency's Safety Management System that functions to ensure the implementation and effectiveness of safety risk mitigation and to ensure that the transit agency meets or exceeds its safety objectives through the collection, analysis, and assessment of information. Safety Event is defined as a collision, derailment,fire, hazardous material spill,the act of nature (Act of God), evacuation, or OSONOC occurring on transit right-of-way, in a transit revenue facility, in a transit maintenance facility, or involving a transit revenue vehicle and meeting established National Transit Database(NTD)thresholds. Reported in National Transit Database (NTD)data sheet S&S-40 for major event and SS-50 for non-major event Safety Committee is charged with overseeing procedures and processes that directly and indirectly affect the safe operation of the Bus and Paratransit Systems. The Safety Committee shall review and make recommendations for improvements to system operations and maintenance by conducting quarterly inspections and audits of facilities,vehicles,operations, and maintenance personnel standard operating procedures, processes,and practices. Safety Management Policy means a transit agency's documented commitment to safety, which defines the transit agency's safety objectives and the accountabilities and responsibilities of its employees about safety. Safety Management System(SMS) means the formal,top-down, data-driven, organization-wide approach to managing safety risk and assuring the effectiveness of a transit agency's safety risk mitigation. SMS includes systematic procedures, practices, and policies for managing risks and hazards. Page I45 Safety objective means a general goal or desired outcome related to safety. Safety performance means an organization's safety effectiveness and efficiency, as defined by safety performance indicators and targets, measured against its safety objectives. Safety performance indicator refers to a data-driven,quantifiable parameter used for monitoring and assessing safety performance. Safety Performance Measure is an expression based on a quantifiable indicator of performance or condition that is used to establish targets and to assess progress toward meeting the established targets. Safety performance monitoring means activities aimed at quantifying an organization's safety effectiveness and efficiency during service delivery operations,through a combination of safety performance indicators and safety performance targets. Safety performance target means a quantifiable level of performance or condition, expressed as a value for a given performance measure, achieved over a specified timeframe related to safety management activities. Safety Promotion means a combination of training and communication of safety information to support SMS as applied to the transit agency's public transportation system. Safety risk means the assessed probability and severity of the potential consequence(s)of a hazard, using as reference the worst foreseeable, but a credible outcome. Safety risk assessment means the formal activity whereby a transit agency determines Safety Risk Management priorities by establishing the significance or value of its safety risks. Safety risk mitigation means the activities whereby a public transportation agency controls the probability or severity of the potential consequences of hazards. Safety risk probability means the likelihood that a consequence might occur,taking as reference the worst foreseeable—but credible—condition. Safety risk severity means the anticipated effects of a consequence,should it materialize,taking as reference the worst foreseeable—but credible—condition. Security Event means an occurrence of a bomb threat, bombing, arson, hijacking, sabotage, cybersecurity event, assault, robbery, rape, burglary, suicide, attempted suicide (not involving a transit vehicle), larceny, theft, vandalism, homicide, CBR (chemical/biological/radiological) or nuclear release, or other events. Serious Injury means any injury which: (1) Requires hospitalization for more than 48 hours, commencing within seven days from the date of the injury was received; (2) results in a fracture of any bone (except simple fractures of fingers, toes, or nose); (3) causes severe hemorrhages, nerve, muscle, or tendon damage; (4) involves any internal organ;or(5) involves second-or third-degree burns, or any burns affecting more than 5 percent of the body surface. d 146 State of Good Repair means the condition in which a capital asset can operate at a full level of performance. System Reliability is defined as measuring the mean distance between major mechanical failures in a transit system and usually measured by mode. Vehicle Revenue Miles(VRM) Means the miles that vehicles are scheduled to or travel while in revenue service.Vehicle revenue miles include: • Layover/recovery time. Exclude: • Deadhead; • Operator training; • Vehicle maintenance testing;and • School bus and charter services. Page I47 Appendix 2 MV Transportation SMSHazard/Risk Report Form This report L2 Hazard 7 Risk l- Near Miss❑ Other concerns: Hazard Type: Policy/Procedure❑ Operational C Environmental El Equipment/Design El Training REPORTED BY: I Employee E Customer/Passenger ❑ Other: e.PC c.fC NAME: LOCATION: Description of Safety Concern: PHOTOS: r Yes n No Hazard Analysis: -- According to Hazard Severity Matrix 1 Catastrophic 2 Critical 3 Marginal 4 Negligible Recommended Safety Risk Mitigation: Supervisor/Safety Manager Comments/Actions: • Supervisor/Safety Manager: Page I48 Hazard/Risk Resolution Is Hazard/Risk corrected"On the Spot"? Yes V No If the answer is"No"then proceed with the steps below: Tris repo,:rn us:oe`c rwarced to the SAFETY SA.FETY DEPARTMENT;report is assigned to specific departments)for hazard rectification: report is assigned a priority Priority: fl High❑ Medium n Low Hazard/Risk/Near Miss deficiency corrected? ❑yes❑No Date dosed if"Yes" Date -a-sse,is NO,ncti'i safety cepartmen:tc begin continuing action for resolution,an;sen :o:ne Safety Teary or Staff`_ recommendations. Ls:how the Hazaro/Risk/Near Miss was resolved Date Resolved 49 Appendix 3 2020 NTD Safety&Security Quick Reference Guide—Non-Rail Mode Reporting Reportable Event:A safety or security event occurring:on transit right-of--way or infrastructure,at a transit revenue facility,at a maintenance facility,during a transit related maintenance activity,or involving a transit revenue vehide. Excluded from this event reporting requirement are:events that occur off transit property where affected persons, vehicles,or objects come to rest on transit property after the event,OSHA events in administrative buildings,deaths that are a result of illness or other natural causes,other events(assault,robbery,non-transit vehicle collisions,etc.) occurring at bus stops or shelters that are not on transit-owned property(unless boarding/alighting at the time), collisions that occur while travelling to or from a transit-related maintenance activity,collisions involving a supervisor car,or other transit service vehicle operating on public roads.) S&S-40 Major Event Report S&S-50 Non-Major Monthly Summary MAJOR THRESHOLDS NON-MAJOR THtESHOLDS An event meeting the reportable event definition AND meeting Less severe Other Safety Occurrence Not Otherwise Classified one or mare of the following reporting thresholds: (OSONOC)injunes meeting the reportable event definition •A fatality confirmed within 30 days(including suiode) that are NOT a result of a collision,evacuation,security event, •An injury requiring transport away from the scene for hazmat spill,or Act of God;and non-major fires. medical attention for one or more persons(partial Other Safety Occurrence Not Otherwise Classified(OSONOC): exception in the case of Other Safety Events) •Single injury event requiring transport away from the •Estimated property damage equal to or exceeding$25,000 scene for medical attention(do not report"minor' •An evacuation for life safety reasons collisions on S&s-5o) •Collisions involving transit roadway revenue vehicles that Fires: require towing away of a transit roadway vehicle or other •Requinng suppression that do not meet a major incident non transit roadway vehicle reporting threshold injury,fatality,evacuation,or property damage of 525;000 or more). Reports are due within 30 days of the date of the event. Reports due by the end of the following month(e.g.,January data due by end of February). EVENT TYPES EVENT TYPES •Collision(including suicide/attempted suicide) r Other Safety Occurrence Not Otherwise Classified(OSONOC): •Fire injury due to: •Hazardous material spill)requres specialized clean-up) •Slip/Trip •Acts of God(nature) •Fall •System security Including person making contact with a non-moving Arson transit vehicle o Bomb threat/bombing •Iriury to maintenance workers o Burglary/Vandalism •Boarding/alighting o Chemical/biological/radiological/nuclear release •Abrupt or evasive transit vehicle maneuvers o Cyber secunty event •Mobility device(eg wheelchair)securement issues o Hijacking •Injury sustained on a mobility device lift o Sabotage •stairs/elevator/escalator injury o Suspicious package Other security event(shots fled,projectiles,etc.) Fire: •Personal Security: •Requires suppression but no major threshold is met o Assault Small fire on in transit station o Homicide Small engine fire on transit vehicle o Suicide or Attempted Suicide(no transit vehicle involved) o Robbery o larceny/theft o Motor vehicle theft o Rape o Other personal security events(perpetrator taring) •Other Safety Occurrences Not Otherwise Classified )OSONOC)(two injuries and/or another threshold) Miscellaneous events that meet a threshold Page I50 Appendix 4 Safety Committee PTASP Approval Form Purpose In compliance with the Federal Transit Administration(FTA)Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP)requirements,specifically requirement 2-c as outlined in 49 CFR §§ 673.11(a)(1)(i), 673.19(d)(1), and 673.31, this document confirms the approval of the PTASP by the St. Lucie County Area Regional Transit Safety Committee. The Safety Committee has reviewed the PTASP prepared by the St. Lucie County Transit Department for the 2024/2025 period and thus approves the plan as meeting the applicable federal safety requirements. Safety Committee Approval Signatures By signing below,the Safety Committee confirms that it has thoroughly reviewed and approved the PTASP for the St. Lucie County Area Regional Transit System Name Title Signatu Date Lakeshia Brown General Manager // 77�" Anthony Johnson Operations Manager i //�// ''"" Israel Kahr Operator � jZ/e p Roger Attalah Operator Page I51 Appendix 5 St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners Resolution of Approval Page I52 Appendix 6 Assaults on Transit Workers Risk Assessment Matrix 5 Very High 4 High Likelihood 3 Moderate 2 Law 1 Very low May cause May cause May cause Could cause death or minor injury, severe injury Negligible minor first or minor or major permanent aid injury or treatment damae ey damage destruction of g 8 property • A • B C D E Severi� Page I53 Appendix 7 Safety Committee Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Meeting — November 17th, 2025 — meeting started at 1620 Attendees Lakeshia Brown—General Manger Anthony Johnson—Operational Manger Carla Jones—Safety/Training Manager Israel Kahr—Union steward, Fixed route driver Roger Atallah—Paratransit driver Lateria Payne—Recorder, Fixed Route Operational Manger The meeting started with Lakeshia welcoming the committee and reiterating the purpose of the group. She followed with the welcoming of Carla Jones to become the new overseer of the Safety committee. This motion was approved. Lateria followed by reviewing the minutes from the previous meeting- • Israel found an error with his comments, "Passenger count sheets are too much for drivers."The proper verbiage was corrected,to now say, "Passenger count sheets are too much for drivers, while using the tablets. This motion was approved. The meeting was paused at 1640, Carla stepped out to gather the FTA PTASP requirements and guidelines. The meeting resumes at 1648. Lakeshia- • read through the highlighted portions that were in relation to the Safety Committee for all to have a better understanding of our goal. • Explained the purpose of DriveCam. • Asked what can we do to remain safe? • Israel acknowledged that the presence of the road supervisors has improved and teaching driver's their mistakes through retaining. • Lakeshia gave explanations on what's a Major accident and how the amount can range from $25,000 to$1,000,00. • Israel asked to keep the open dialogue between managers and drivers. • Bi-annual training was spoken upon, and the motion was approved. Asked for recommendations for Safety risk mitigations of Safety performance and assault on workers. Page 54 • In response: • Having more road supervisors at larger populated and common stops. • Placing safety and security announcements at the intermodals and buses through PA speakers. • Placing safety and security announcements on the electronic display inside the buses. • Every hour end of the line inspections for route buses. • Quarterly safety committee meetings mitigations open table talks. • Training for assault on a worker at safety meetings • Ex. Hostage situation, Hostile situation, etc. • Israel- Revisited the Motion to approved to move Driver shields, 901 passenger mirrors, and Fire extinguishers to next meeting,which in this previous meeting. • He asked if an accident happened who would be at fault,this was in concern to bus 901. • He wasn't for sure but from his last known knowledge 1209 was still missing a fire extinguisher. • 1209 ramp doesn't work • 1208 and 1203 mirror problems • F2202-stop request passenger cord loose • F2401 and F2402 not properly securing • 1801 and 1802 drivers' seats are leaning to the left • The new DVIR books doesn't have the horn in bold. • F2203- horn doesn't work Bike rake is broken Two check engine lights are on Roger- • Distorted mirrors on all 1300 series. • 2106- radio loses signal constantly • 2105- battery dies often. • FA2406 reverse alarm doesn't work. • 901-very unsafe for drivers and passengers. Driver seat is broken. The blind spot is still there on the passenger side. • Lakeshia recommended a mirror extension. He expressed his concerns of the facility, asked for better lighting to be placed for employees and drivers' safety. Page 155 Open discussion No comments were made. Next meeting is scheduled for February 23rd for 1600. Meeting ended at 1852 Page I 56