Similar to the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration has established a set of rule-makings implementing performance management to improve project and program delivery, inform investment decisions, focus staff on leadership priorities, and provide greater transparency and accountability. The rule-making requires metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) to coordinate with transit providers, set performance targets, and integrate those performance targets and performance plans into their planning documents by certain dates. FTA administers a national transit safety program and compliance oversight process as well as a Transit Asset Management (TAM) program, a model that uses asset condition to help prioritize funding to achieve or maintain transit networks in a state of good repair.
Transit Asset Management
Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) has developed information and targets for the following four state of good repair performance measures:
- Rolling Stock: The percentage of revenue vehicles (by type) that exceed the useful life benchmark (ULB).
- Equipment: The percentage of non-revenue service vehicles (by type) that exceed the ULB.
- Facilities: The percentage of facilities (by group) that are rated less than 3.0 on the Transit Economic Requirements Model (TERM) Scale.
- Infrastructure: The percentage of track segments (by mode) that have performance restrictions, considered to have a rating less than 3.0 on the TERM Scale.
On August 23, 2018, the Transportation Policy Board (TPB) of the Memphis Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) approved a resolution to support MATA's transit targets, which are shown in the table below:
|
Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA)
|
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transit Asset Management Performance Measures | Asset Type/Group | Baseline (2018) | Target (2019) | |
| Rolling Stock (All Revenue Vehicles) |
Streetcars | 71% | 50% | |
| Regular Buses | 27% | 20% | ||
| MATA Plus Buses | 31% | 20% | ||
| Equipment (Non-Revenue Vehicles) |
Truck & Wreckers | 90% | 50% | |
| Auto Service Cars | 95% | 50% | ||
| Facilities (All Buildings or Structures) |
Improvements | 40% | 30% | |
| Shop & Garage | 89% | 50% | ||
| Structure & Building | 35% | 30% | ||
| Misc. Equipment | 81% | 50% | ||
| Infrastructure | Streetcar | Tracks | 0% | 0% |
| Signals | 100% | 50% | ||
| Systems | 0% | 0% | ||
By agreeing to support MATA’s Transit Asset Management targets, the Memphis MPO agrees to:
- Include a description in the TIP (Transportation Improvement Program) of the anticipated effect of the TIP toward achieving the transit asset management targets in the RTP, linking investment priorities in the TIP to those targets
- Integrate into the metropolitan transportation planning process, the transit asset management measures and targets described in MATA's Transit Asset Management Plan.
- Coordinate with MATA and include the transit asset management targets for those measures in the long-range regional transportation plan (RTP).
Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan
FTA published the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) Final Rule on July 19, 2018. PTASP requires certain operators of public transportation systems that receive federal funds under FTA's Urbanized Area Formula Grants to develop safety plans that include the processes and procedures to implement Safety Management Systems (SMS).
As the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) is a recipient and sub-recipient of federal financial assistance under the Urbanized Area Formula Program (49 U.S.C. § 5307) that operates public transportation, MATA will be required to set safety performance targets for the following measures, below. On February 15, 2024, the Transportation Policy Board (TPB) of the Memphis Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) approved a resolution to support MATA's safety performance targets, which are included in the table below.
- Fatalities: Total number of reportable fatalities and rate per vehicle revenue miles by mode.
- Injuries: Total number of reportable injuries and rate per vehicle miles by mode.
- Safety Events: Total number of reportable events and rate per vehicle revenue miles by mode.
- System Reliability: Mean distance between major mechanical failures by mode.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does projected transit asset condition and transit safety mean?
-
These measures focus on public transportation: how well transit equipment and facilities are maintained, and how safely the system is operating. They may sound technical, but the idea is simple. Transit systems need regular care, just like roads, bridges, cars, and homes.
What does projected transit asset condition mean?
Projected transit asset condition means the expected future condi-tion of public transportation vehicles, equipment, and facilities.
Transit assets may include:
- Buses
- Streetcars
- Trains
- Vans
- Maintenance equipment
- Stations
- Stops
- Parking areas
- Garages
- Other transit facilities
Are these projections exact?
No. They are planning estimates. They help transit agencies understand which assets may need maintenance, repair, replacement, or upgrades in the future.
A simple example: Think about a family car. Even if it runs well today, the owner still keeps track of mileage, oil changes, tire wear, brakes, and age. That helps the family plan for repairs before the car breaks down. Transit agencies do the same thing on a larger scale. They track the condition of vehicles and facilities so they can plan ahead and keep service depend-able.
Why does this matter?
When transit assets are kept in good condition, the system is more reliable, comfortable, and cost-effective. Riders are less likely to experience delays caused by equipment problems, and agencies can better plan how to use limited funding.
What does transit safety mean?
Transit safety refers to the projected number and rate of fatalities and serious injuries involving public transit vehicles or occurring on board transit vehicles. We understand why this can sound concerning. It is important to be very clear: these projections are not goals. They are not acceptable outcomes. They are estimates used to understand safety trends and reduce risk.
How are safety baselines calculated?
Safety performance baselines are often based on the previous five years of safety data trends. Looking at several years of data helps agencies see patterns instead of reacting to only one unusual year.
Why are safety projections included?
Because they help agencies answer the following questions:
- Are safety incidents increasing or decreasing?
- Are certain locations or services showing higher risk?
- Are safety investments working?
- Where should training, maintenance, design changes, or operational improvements be focused?
- What funding or planning actions may be needed?
A simple example: If a transit agency sees a pattern of slips, falls, or vehicle-related incidents at certain locations, it can use that information to improve lighting, signage, maintenance, operator training, or stop design.
What is the real goal?
The goal is always to improve safety, reduce serious injuries, and prevent fatalities. The projections help agencies understand where attention is needed most.
Bottom line?
Projected transit asset condition helps agencies plan formaintenance andreplacement needs. Transit safety projections help identify risks and guide improvements. These measures are about keeping transit systems safe, reliable, and well maintained.
Additional Resources
Resolution to Support the Transit Asset Management Performance Measure Targets Prepared by MATA
MATA/University of Memphis TAM Performance Measures Presentation
Resolution to Support the Public Transportation Agency Safety Performance Targets Prepared by MATA
