Washington — The Federal Transit Administration has withdrawn an advance notice of proposed rulemaking exploring the establishment of minimum standards for public transit worker hours of service as well as mandates for fatigue risk management programs.
A July 1 announcement states that the ANPRM – published Oct. 30, 2023 – is superseded by an existing Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan regulation that already covers risks associated with worker fatigue.
The PTASP mandate requires operators of public transportation systems funded under the FTA Urbanized Area Formula Grants and rail transit agencies subject to the FTA State Safety Oversight Program to implement an agency safety plan. That plan must include processes and procedures to establish a safety management system, which FTA calls “a comprehensive, collaborative and systematic approach to managing safety.”
FTA’s notice didn’t offer specific proposals for HOS or fatigue risk management programs; rather, it sought comment on the issues. The agency offered information on American Public Transportation Association consensus standards and other relevant federal regulations.
APTA’s consensus standard for train operator HOS is 12 hours, with a “maximum duty day” of 16 hours. Further, it includes a minimum off-duty time of 10 hours and a max of seven consecutive workdays.
“If FTA determines further action to be necessary, it will consider regulatory action,” the agency says.
