UPDATE
These additional safety measures are still in the planning
phase, but the RTC plans to implement most of these
technologies by the end of 2020.
DATA DASHBOARD: To be transparent about how the
pandemic is affecting RTC’s transit service, the agency has
created an online data dashboard comprised of ridership
numbers, vehicle on-time performance data, vehicle capacity
updates and more information. The feature provides a
comparison of current data to that before the pandemic.
The information will be updated regularly as new information
is available.
FMCSA removes motorcoach
DVIR requirements, reduces
regulatory costs
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced in July it has published
a final rule to reduce regulatory costs by $74 million per year by
removing an information collection burden for commercial buses and
other passenger-carrying motorcoaches.
“This rule will remove outdated and overly burdensome reporting
requirements on commercial buses that don’t contribute to improving
safety” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.
As part of the agency’s ongoing effort to review existing
regulations to evaluate their continued necessity and effectiveness,
FMCSA is rescinding the requirement that drivers of commercial
buses submit – and their motor carriers retain – driver-vehicle
inspection reports (DVIRs) when the driver has neither found nor
been made aware of any vehicle defects or deficiencies.
“This straightforward rule is reflective of the agency and
Department’s approach to reducing unneeded regulatory costs,
while ensuring safety,” said FMCSA Deputy Administrator Jim
Mullen. “Eliminating regulatory burdens and saving commercial
drivers valuable time is helpful to support the commercial bus
industry – especially during our nation’s economic recovery. The
bus industry plays a critical role in connecting our nation’s people
and communities, and this commonsense rule change will make a
difference for commercial bus companies around the country.”
Current regulations require commercial bus drivers to submit
DVIRs even if there are no vehicle defects to report. The new rule will
eliminate the need for a driver to file, and a motor carrier to maintain, a
no-defect DVIR.
The agency estimates that passenger-carrying com mercial motor
vehicle drivers spend approximately 2.4 million hours each year
completing no-defect DVIRs, and that this rule would result in a cost
savings of $74 million per year to the industry.
FMCSA has focused on reducing regulatory burdens without
impacting safety. In May, the agency published a final rule on hours
of service regulations that will save the motor carrier industry an
estimated $273 million per year.
Additionally, in March 2019, the agency authored a final rule
streamlining the process and reducing costs to upgrade from
a Class B to Class A commercial driver’s license (CDL) – a
deregulatory action that will save eligible driver trainees and motor
carriers $18 million annually.
FMCSA’s final rule removing the DVIRs can be viewed by visiting:
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/driver-safety/passengercarrier-no-defect-driver-vehicle-inspection-reports
RTC Washoe installs onboard
mask dispensers
The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Washoe
County in Nevada has completed the installation of mask
dispensers on its buses. Now, transit passengers can conveniently
use self-service mask dispensers to receive a free mask as they
board any RTC bus.
The health and safety of the community and RTC’s contracted
frontline transit workers and transit riders are the RTC’s top
priorities. The RTC and its contractors have been in full compliance
of the Governor’s mask-wearing directive as of its effective date of
June 26, 2020.
The RTC thanks the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal
Transit Administration (in coordination with the FTA Region 9 Office),
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal
Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland
Security for their delivery of 1,500 masks for contracted transit
employees and 6,000 masks for transit passengers
A recent analysis of transit passengers during the past seven days
showed 99.9 percent were in compliance with Governor Sisolak’s
directive. To date, there have been no COVID-19 cases reported
among transit passengers or transit drivers in Washoe County.
The RTC and its contractors are taking proactive steps to ensure
passengers wear face coverings as well as transit drivers on RTC
transit services, including:
• Providing free face coverings on buses and at RTC Customer
Service at 4TH STREET STATION in Reno and CENTENNIAL PLAZA
in Sparks.
• Educating passengers who are not wearing face coverings
about Governor Sisolak’s Face Coverings Directive and providing
complimentary face covering upon boarding.
• Posting signage on buses and at bus stations reminding customers
to wear face coverings on transit.
• Providing complimentary face coverings onboard RTC ACCESS and
FlexRIDE services.
• Asking drivers to report passengers who do not wear face coverings
on RTC RIDE transit services to Keolis dispatch.
The RTC and its contractors continue to adhere to exceptions
for individuals who may not be able to wear a face covering or
mask, as outlined in the Governor’s Directive and in accordance
with federal protections outlined under Title VI and Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA).
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