Staff recommends City Council approve and adopt the updated MET Transit Agency Safety Plan as required by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under the final rule covered by 49 CFR Part 673.

49 CFR 673 includes the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan final rule, which requires operators of public transportation systems who receive Federal financial assistance under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 53 to develop Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans based on the Safety Management System approach and principles. The development and implementation of these safety plans helps to ensure that public transportation systems across the nation operate in a safe manner in execution of transit services and were first required to be implemented in January of 2020. In order to meet this requirement, MET Transit Division staff have developed, implemented, and continue to maintain the MET Transit Agency Safety Plan in accordance with and guidance from Federal Transit Administration regulations and requirements. The overall procedures and practices outlined by the Plan continue to be implemented daily while the plan itself is updated and modified as necessary for continued compliance as well as necessary improvements to safety practices. The plan is required to be reviewed annually. As MET Transit staff recently completed the annual review of the Plan, updated language has been added to both the the body and appendices. This Plan covers all areas of the City of Billings MET Transit operation in regard to safety, including vehicle operation, passenger service, fleet and facility maintenance, administration, and other applicable areas.   As outlined by the final rule in 49 CFR 673, this plan requires adoption by the transit agency's governing board, the Billings City Council, when annual updates to the plan body occur. Specific updates to the Plan are outlined in the "Plan Development, Approval, and Update History" of the document, with specific updated items listed under the most recent revision.

City Council may:

• Approve the MET Transit Agency Safety Plan, ensuring compliance with FTA regulations; or,
• Not Approve the MET Transit Agency Safety Plan.  This action would put the receipt of Federal funding in jeopardy, placing a significant financial strain on both the capital and operational needs of the MET Transit Division and impair the City's ability to provide transit services to the population of Billings.

At this time, there will be no additional financial impact as the MET Transit Division intends to continue utilizing current personnel and resources to fulfill the requirements of the MET Transit Agency Safety Plan. However, as the Plan continues to develop, additional capital and or operational resources may be necessary and will be evaluated as needed.