The document discusses the importance of transit and mobility in enhancing safety in rural transportation, emphasizing the role of multimodal safety and requirements for transit agencies. It highlights the responsibilities of transit agency managers in ensuring vehicle, driver, and passenger safety, alongside the need for safety plans for agencies receiving federal funding. The presentation is part of a peer exchange event organized by the National Association of Development Organizations, aiming to promote safe access to essential services in rural areas.

1. Transit & Mobility in Rural
Transportation Safety
Carrie Kissel
Rural Safety Peer Exchange
Atlanta, GA | September 17-18, 2024

2. Presentation topics
• About NADO/NADORF
• Why multimodal safety
matters
• Transit safety
requirements
• Transit as a safe mode
• More resources

3. About NADO
• National association for 540 regional development organizations,
including emerging network of Rural Transportation Planning
Organizations (RTPOs or RPOs).
• Promote public policies that strengthen local governments,
communities and economies through the regional strategies,
coordination efforts and program expertise of the nation’s regional
development organizations.
• Through the NADO Research Foundation, provide information,
training, capacity building, and technical assistance for regional
development organizations and their partners.

4. Why safety matters
• Residents and visitors to
rural communities need
safe access and reliable
mobility options to
– Employment
– Training
– Shopping
– Services
– Social events

5. Building safety culture
Transit agency managers are responsible for:
• Vehicle safety
• Driver safety
– Drug & alcohol; driver training; pre-trip vehicle inspections; etc.
• Passenger safety
– Safe boarding & deboarding; securing mobility devices
• Emergency procedures
• Recipients of FTA 5307 urban transit funding must complete a
Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan
– Some states apply this to rural 5311 sub-recipients

7. Transit is a safe mode
Vehicle Type Total Percent
Passenger Cars 20049 33.1
Light Trucks 25807 42.7
Large Trucks 5837 9.6
Motorcycles 6359 10.5
Buses 213 0.4
Other/
Unknown 2236 3.7
Total 60501 100
Buses 213 0.4
School Bus 91 0.2
Intercity Bus 14 0.0
Transit Bus 74 0.1
Other Bus 34 0.1
Note: There were 39,221 total fatal motor vehicle crashes in 2022
Source: NHTSA, FARS 2022, Vehicles involved in fatal crashes by vehicle type,
https://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Vehicles/VehiclesAllVehicles.aspx

8. Transit & mobility as a safety intervention

9. Transit operates best in a safe system

10. Resources & Contact Info
• Carrie Kissel, Associate
Director
– ckissel@nado.org
– 202-643-9560
– www.NADO.org
– www.Rural
Transportation.org