2022 TSWD Project Overview Snapshot
CUTR conducted an organization and operational assessment of Senior Resource Association in Vero Beach, FL. The research team conducted onsite employee interviews and virtual meetings to assess company culture. The data collected during this project included: span of control, operational budgets, National Transit Database (NTD) data, literature reviews, peer and trend analysis, ridership data, and overall departmental structure. The study provided recommendations for increased staffing, growth in expanded service area, best practices for organizational restructuring, and compensation assessment.
CUTR conducted an independent safety, training, and drug and alcohol program management assessment of Palm Tran in West Palm Beach. The research team provided an analysis of transit accident and incident events, thorough training program review, driver and route observations, and policy review. The study provided process improvement recommendations such as: development of succession plan for key staff, implementation of new bus operator training program, implementation of customer service training, and additional training for subcontractors’ drug and alcohol program staff.
During the reporting period, 82 in-person and virtual events were held with 2,764 participants and 9,104 contact hours were provided. The learning management system (Transportation Learning) is used for computer-based training, and training was provided to an additional 2,422 individuals for a total of 1,913 contact hours. Total numbers for both: 5,186 attendees and 11,017 contact hours.
Program websites were accessed by 21,462 users and 135,787 pages were visited.
Program listservs that foster communication with practitioners and fellow transit agencies include members interested in transit safety, operations, maintenance, substance abuse management, transit emergencies, and rural transit needs. The listservs continue to be valuable resources to support the needs of transit agencies in Florida and around the country. The total listserv subscriptions grew by more than 254 new members in 2022. A total of 2,800 subscribers received over 489,468 emails assisting fellow transit agency staff members statewide and nationally.
FDOT Project Updates
Florida Transit Research Inspection Procurement Services (TRIPS) program conducted 150 comprehensive pre-delivery bus inspections and processed 126 invoices for the purchase of transit vehicles, virus mitigation components, and software systems. TRIPS also assisted with two cutaway transit vehicle rollover compliance tests. These tests are an integral part of the TRIPS process that ensures passenger safety on cutaway transit buses.
Florida Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP) released the Florida Transit Manager’s Toolkit as a compendium of resources, links, information to the National RTAP Transit Manager’s Toolkit. The goal of these two resources is to provide new transit managers with the information they need to ensure their rural transit organizations are operating smoothly and are in compliance with the federal regulations associated with receiving Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5311 funding, Rule Chapter 14-90, Florida Administrative Code and the Florida State Management Plan. The information contained in this toolkit will assist Florida transit managers dealing with the multiple responsibilities a transit agency demands including managing their daily routine, responding to emergencies, and ensuring compliance.
The Florida Transit Safety and Operations Network (FTSON) held their quarterly meetings with their statewide transit stakeholders. Topics included during these meetings included Rule 14-90, Florida Administrative Code vs. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT), Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT), Human Trafficking Awareness for Transit, TSA Homeland Security BASE Assessment Overview, Public Sector Hiring and Retention Challenges/Strategies, New Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Preparing for Automated Vehicle Deployments and Low Speed Vehicle/Trams, Fitness for Duty/Fatigue Report.
The Florida Compliance, Oversight and Technical Assistance (COTA) Program conducted safety, security and maintenance triennial reviews of 72 agencies and 10 agency contracted service providers that utilize state and federal funding for public transit service provision. In support of these reviews, the COTA team provided training and technical assistance to FDOT Central and District offices and transit agencies. The team worked closely with FDOT to draft safety, security, operations, and maintenance standards for updated state rules and plans.
The Florida Statewide Transit Training and Technical Assistance (STTAT) program developed a new Transit Supervisor and Leadership Training for Florida Transit Agencies. The training course was piloted at Gainesville Regional Transit System (RTS) and then delivered to transit agencies in Tampa, Delray Beach, St. Augustine, and Tallahassee.
The FDOT Substance Abuse Management Oversight and Technical Assistance Program delivered training and technical assistance to 22 rural transit agencies throughout the state. The “SAM” program’s mission is to assist transit agencies in the compliant implementation of Federal drug and alcohol testing regulations, which is a condition of the state’s receipt of federal funds supporting public transportation in areas with a population of less than 50,000.
