Public Transportation Industry Releases Rail Transit Standards -- Standards Improve Quality and Performance of Transit Services

Contacts: Virginia Miller (202) 496-4816 vmiller@apta.com
or Donna Aggazio (202) 496-4884 daggazio@apta.com.

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The American Public Transportation Association today announced the release of more than 90 rail transit voluntary standards to guide the operation and maintenance of rail transit systems in the United States. Implementing industry standards is expected to benefit rail transit systems and ultimately its riders by improving safety, reducing costs and enhancing service reliability.

"Successful standards processes are expected to bring positive results for transit systems, their suppliers and state and federal regulatory agencies," said APTA President William W. Millar. "With the help of standards, transit systems can improve the quality and performance of their services and encourage more innovation in the transit industry, while also controlling costs."

APTA, as a Standards Development Organization, brought together over 200 transit professionals, who through a formal consensus process over a period of four years, developed the newly released rail transit standards. The transit industry developed these standards through a balanced representation of interested parties. The process also incorporated a public comment period and a formal process to respond to comments.

"The use of standards makes good business sense," said APTA's Millar. "With the release of today's rail transit standards, we expect the public transportation industry to come together and broaden the overall acceptance and scope of the program."

Two basic types of standards exist. Prescriptive standards define exactly how to do something, similar to a recipe. Performance standards define an end result, but allow flexibility on how that result is achieved. Both types of standards define specific ways to measure success. Examples of approved standards include those that prescribe vehicle crashworthiness, operating practices, grade crossings and vehicle inspections.

Currently, APTA has five separate active standards programs underway in commuter rail, transit bus, intelligent transportation systems, fare collection systems, and rail transit. More than 800 transit industry professionals participate in more than 30 committees to develop standards. APTA President William W. Millar made today's announcement at the APTA Annual Meeting in Atlanta, the premier gathering of public transportation professionals in North America.

For more information about APTA's standards development program, visit www.apta.com.

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APTA is a nonprofit international association of more than 1,500 member organizations including public transportation systems; planning, design, construction and finance firms; product and service providers; academic institutions, and state associations and departments of transportation. APTA members serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical public transportation services and products. Over ninety percent of persons using public transportation in the United States and Canada are served by APTA members.