The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced a final rule updating FTA’s Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program. These updates maintain a uniform safety training curriculum and minimum requirements for rail transit and state safety personnel, building upon existing training requirements for safety professionals.
The certification training program sets requirements for safety professionals in rail transit agencies as well as those with oversight functions at State Safety Oversight Agencies. The training program updates are the result of months of work by Biden-Harris Administration leaders and in response to comments filed by stakeholders, including transit agencies.
The FTA published updates to the Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program (PTSCTP) Regulation that refine the communication process, add administrative requirements and clarify voluntary participation and recertification training requirements.
The FTA incorporated feedback from a variety of stakeholders and has implemented updates to the final PTSCTP safety regulation, including:
- Adding a recertification element defined by FTA.
- Requiring state safety oversight agencies (SSOAs) and rail transit agencies to establish a lead contact with FTA who must report semiannually about the status of their participation and their agency-defined recertification training requirements.
- Clarifying that voluntary participants are not required to complete recertification requirements to maintain their certification.
- Increasing flexibility in the training certification program.
- Updating definitions to clarify requirements and provide consistency with other FTA programs and regulations.
- Determining that mandatory participation will not extend to bus transit agencies and personnel.
The PTSCTP regulation maintains the existing minimum training requirements for SSOA personnel and employees and contractors who are directly responsible for the safety oversight of a rail fixed guideway public transportation system.
The FTA will host a webinar to provide more information about PTSCTP updates and will announce the date soon.