Background
FTA’s Office of Safety and Security conducts Safety and Security Readiness Reviews (SSRRs) to identify and resolve safety and security concerns prior to the initiation of New Starts and major extension projects into passenger service. This required development of a formal approach for the conduct of the SSRRs. BCG has been instrumental developing FTA’s SSRR program and has successfully conducted six FTA SSRR reviews since 2001, including the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) to ensure their ability to provide safe and effective transportation for those attending the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.
Approach
Using 49 CFR Part 659 as the basis, BCG established the necessary requirements for new systems including integrated testing of the system and pre revenue operations leading to the revenue operations date (ROD). Next BCG developed a list of required documents for both the state safety oversight agency and the rail transit agency necessary to bring the project from planning to ROD. Requirements included all necessary standards, procedures, and planning documentation to ensure the system has been built in accordance with the Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) that the rail transit agency has with the FTA.
Approximately one year prior to ROD, BCG schedules with the affected state safety oversight agency and rail transit agency for the conduct of the SSRR.   Following agreement on the date, BCG officially sends notification for the FTA which includes the agenda and expected attendees along with the list of required documentation to be submitted to BCG prior to the SSRR. Once the documentation is received, BCG conducts a thorough review and prepares a list of preliminary issues for onsite discussion and verification. The SSRR is conducted onsite over a three day period. An exit briefing is provided with preliminary findings/recommendations and a final report is issued in the subsequent two week period.
Results
SSRRs that have been developed, coordinated and conducted by BCG have provided valuable recommendations to New Start systems. This has played a valuable role in the safe start up of nascent heavy and light rail systems throughout the county.