Public Safety, Customer Service & Operations

February 2017

REPORTING: Employees are encouraged to report safety issues in a confidential manner without fear of retribution.

INFORMED: Leading indicators of safety performance are collected, analyzed, and disseminated.

LEARNING: As a result of safety trends or incidents, processes and practices are changed and outstanding safety issues are resolved. Employees are trained to ensure competency in their disciplines.

JUST: Employees are held accountable for reckless or deliberate actions, but they are not unduly punished for unintentional errors.

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REQUIRED BY CURRENT PROPOSED (MAP-21)

Federal

49 CFR 659 (2005)Rail System Safety Program Plan

49 CFR 673 (2016)Public Transportation Safety Program(all modes)

N/A Transportation Safety Certification Training

N/A National Public Transportation Safety Plan

49 CFR 659 (2005)System Security Plan

N/A

State State Safety and Security Oversight Program Standard (TXDOT)

State Safety Oversight Program (TXDOT)

Agency Bus System Safety Program Plan (voluntary)

Rolled into Public Transportation Safety Program (all modes)

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YEAR RAIL AUDIT/ASSESSMENT ITEM

2004 METRORAIL TRAFFIC SAFETY ASSESSMENT conducted by TTI

2008 TxDOT Triennial Safety & Security Audit

2009 METRO Rail Internal Safety Audit (3-Year Period)

2011 TxDOT Triennial Safety & Security Audit

2012 METRO Rail Internal Safety Audit (3-Year Period)

2013 Safety and Security Readiness Review – North Line Extension

2014Safety and Security Readiness Review – Southeast Line

METRO Rail Internal Safety Audit (3-Year Period)

2015TxDOT Triennial Safety & Security Audit

FTA’s audit of State Safety Oversight (TxDOT); METRO had two follow up items

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“The assessment found that the METRORail design was

consistent with the provisions contained in the Manual of

Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and general design

practices involving traffic safety provisions in constrained

alignments.”

-Texas Transportation Institute (TTI)

5

“Thank you Mohammed. I am continually impressed with the

depth of knowledge and the investigative skills you and all the

METRO rail safety folks possess. It is evident whether y’all are

investigating a LRV – POV fender bender or something as

complicated as a runaway LRV the investigation will drill down to

the root cause and corrective actions will be implemented as

necessary.”

-Susan Hausmann WSO-CSSD

State Safety Oversight Manager02/02/2017 Email

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Reestablished in 2016 by the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC)

through it’s Transportation Policy Council (TPC).

− Membership, appointed by the TPC, includes professions and disciplines involved in the many aspects of traffic safety, including: engineering, law enforcement, public health, education, research, and outreach.

The TPC direction for the Regional Safety Council include:

− State of Safety Report,

− Regional safety plan to integrate and complement TxDOT’s statewide safety plan,

− Public outreach and education initiatives to promote safer driving

− Partnerships that will maximize the safety outreach and education supported by the TPC.

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RA

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ITY

BO

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OP

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BR

AIN SAFETY AWARENESS

PROGRAMS

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P

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GENERAL RAIL SIGNAGE

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9

10

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July 2016 August 2016 October 2016

December 2016 December 2016 February 2013

www.facebook.com/RideMETRO@RideMETRO

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TTI suggestions on 2004 review

Pedestrian poles adjacent to rail platforms

Que jump Museum District to UH-Downtown

Tested in-pavement lighting

Back-plate lighting on traffic signals

Rail road light remains

on at all times

Strobe lights on at all

times

13

Slow Zones

Fencing & Gates

"no right hand turn active sign" at UH Drive

Gate Crossing Interface and Bar Signal size upgraded

Stop Bar Signal improved

Magnetic Trip Stop System

Wi-Fi for remote video downloads

Rail Platform and Intersection cameras upgraded

Emergency Blue Light / Call Box on platforms

Cameras at all grade crossings

Wayside lubricators & build out guard rails

Crossing Gates integrated with hi-load detectors

14

Brainstorming

Short-Term

Long-Term

No $$$ Limitations

Optics

Equipment

Operating Practices

Safety Outreach

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Pedestrian Signal Assessment

− Short Term

− Joint effort between COH and METRO

Built System Review

− “Outside The Box Assessment”

− New Staff – METRO and City of Houston Engineering

Joint Review with Partners

− Rice University and the Texas Medical Center

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Painted Lanes and Markings− Pavement markings, enhanced crosswalks

− Painting rail alignment – different color

− Painted curbs to identify rail alignment

Dedicated Guideway Options− Additional pedestrian fencing

− Small barrier wall

− Review shared left turn lanes

− Armadillo Humps (used in Bike Lanes)

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Addition of strobe lighting on platforms

Embedded lights at crosswalks

Strobe lights on front of Trains

Train Color

Review Coupler Cover Design

Additional Signage

Audible Pedestrian Warnings

High Visibility Pedestrian Signals

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Review Rail Operator Training and Recertification

Adjust Audible− Approaching station platforms, prior to entering the platform,

and prior to any preceding intersection and/or crosswalk:

06:00 to 23:00 Two (2) short sounds of the horn.

23:00 to 06:00 Two (2) sounds of the gong.

Review Stop and Proceed/Slow Zones

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Bike Houston

Partnerships

H-GAC Regional Safety Council

TxDOT/NHTSA Safety Grants

Train Safety Education− Operation Lifesaver/FTA

“We’re Working Together for a Safer Tomorrow”

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AUSTIN DALLAS PHOENIX

UTAH SAN DIEGO MINNEAPOLIS

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*2015 Data contained in H-GAC Regional Mobility Report

10% Increase in Traffic Crashes

Slight Change in Traffic Fatalities

3% Reduction in Bicycle Crashes

13% Increase in Bicycle Fatalities

Slight Change in Pedestrian Crashes

20% Increase in Pedestrian Fatalities

24% Reduction in Alcohol Related Traffic Fatalities

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