TO: Board of Trustees
THROUGH: Carolyn Gonot, Executive Director
FROM: Sheldon Shaw, Director of Safety and Security
PRESENTER(S): Sheldon Shaw, Director of Safety and Security
TITLE:
title
Roadway Worker Protection (RWP) Program Manager and Technical Budget Adjustment
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AGENDA ITEM TYPE:
Discussion
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the addition of a full-time employee (FTE) to fill the position of Roadway Worker Protection (RWP) Program Manager and authorize a technical budget adjustment to move $60,500 from the 2021 Operating Budget Contingency to fund the position.
BACKGROUND:
All US railroads are required by law to comply with 49 CFR Part 214 Railroad Workplace Safety. The purpose of this subpart is to prevent accidents and casualties caused by moving railroad cars, locomotives or roadway maintenance machines striking roadway workers or roadway maintenance machines. To comply with this rulemaking UTA has adopted a Roadway Worker Protection Program.
DISCUSSION:
The TRAX and FrontRunner corridors are regulated by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and roadway workers in this shared use track are subject to FRA rules and regulations. The FRA has granted authority to the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), as a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) approved State Safety Oversight Agency (SSOA), to enforce FRA regulatory compliance under FRA’s “Railroad Workplace Safety”, 49 CFR 214. Each of these oversite groups do announced and unannounced audits and spot checks. This new Manager would be UTA’s point of contact for these activities. Oversight and administration of this program at UTA is currently shared by many groups including Property, Safety, Trax / FrontRunner Operations, Maintenance of Way, Facilities, Legal, Training and Audit. Each of these groups have responsibilities for compliance, but RWP isn’t necessarily an area of expertise or the only priority. This lack of a dedicated resource focused on RWP creates a risk for the agency that would be mitigated by this request. An important element of RWP is conducting internal and external audits and field inspections to verify the program is compliant with regulations, policies and procedures. A full-time person assigned these responsibilities will help UTA locate and address potential safety issues and take action to mitigate risk.
ALTERNATIVES:
Continue with the existing fragmented oversight structure. This has been identified as a risk by UTA and FRA.
FISCAL IMPACT:
A dedicated central point of contact and responsibility to provide expertise, coordination, and standardize UTA’s RWP program would greatly enhance compliance and improve worker safety. The potential risk far outweighs the cost of this proposal. Operating budget contingency would fund the compensation and benefits estimated at $60,500 for 2021.
ATTACHMENTS:
None