Preparing for the safety and security risks of providing transit services begins with an assessment of the vehicles, facilities, and people in the organization and the development of policies and procedures that protect our employees and passengers.
Flood Insurance: Subrecipients must have flood insurance as required by the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, 42 U.S.C. § 4012a(a), for any building located in a special flood hazard area (100‐year flood zone), before receiving Federal assistance to acquire, construct, reconstruct, repair, or improve that building. Additionally, the building and its contents must be covered by flood insurance in an amount at least equal to the Federal investment (less estimated land cost) or equal to the maximum limit of coverage made available with respect to the property under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968. Current limits are $500,000 per building and $500,000 for the contents of each building.
Concealed Weapons: Transit systems should have a written policy that generally addresses weapons on transit vehicles and include any restrictions that apply to carrying legally concealed weapons.
Local Emergency Planning: It is expected that the Community transportation systems be actively engaged in the emergency planning activities in every county. Although the need for emergency planning and transportation may be greater in the coastal counties; fires, floods, landslides, highway crashes, inclement weather and tornadoes can occur anywhere across the state and require the collaborative planning and cooperation of all responders to emergencies.
Cellphone Use and Texting: Subrecipients that use cellphones as a substitute for radios must have written safety policies and procedures for drivers’ use of these phones while driving transit vehicles. This document should also address driving and texting, and the use of personal cellphones while driving.
CDL Compliance: A CDL driver’s license is required if the driver is driving a vehicle that is designed to transport more than 16 passengers, including the driver. Annual medical exams of CDL drivers are required if the subrecipient is a non‐profit. Local government employees are exempt from the medical exam. Any mechanic that drives the vehicle must also have a CDL license.
Bloodborne Pathogens: The bloodborne pathogens kit must be in every vehicle and drivers must be trained per OSHA standards on how to use them. Community transportation transports many passengers to dialysis who are at risk of uncontrolled bleeding after the procedure. Drivers should be prepared to protect themselves and their passengers on the vehicle from encountering contaminated blood.
OSHA Requirements: Subrecipients are expected to follow the requirements and guidance of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that apply, but NCDOT will not be responsible for oversight or monitoring these requirements.
Weather-related Cancellations and Closing: Transit systems should have written policies and procedures concerning when to stop transit services and/or close operations due to unsafe weather conditions. The contents should include information about who will make the decision; how the decision will be made (contacted EMS, non‐emergency 911 staff, NC Highway Patrol, NCDOT travel website, etc.); how the drivers and public will be notified; and how passengers that are on the road or still at their destination will get home.
The Integrated Mobility Division (IMD) encourages systems to operate life-sustaining transit services or more, if it can be done safely, even when the system’s sponsoring agency is closed or when schools are closed.
Assistance During Natural Disasters: As part of Federal and state funding, participation in natural disasters is an expectation. See Section 2001 for more details.
References
Awards Management FTA Circular 5010.1E – pgs. IV 42‐43; I 5‐6
FTA Emergency Relief Manual
OSHA Guidance – Standard 29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)
