Transit Asset Management
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requires public transportation agencies to develop a compliant Transit Asset Management (TAM) plan. It also requires that they set performance targets for capital assets, develop performance measures, and coordinate with planning partners.
Data is collected and reported for four transit performance measures:
- Age of rolling stock
- Age of non-revenue service vehicles
- Condition of infrastructure (tracks, signal and systems)
- Facility condition
TAM target setting and submission requirements apply to any agency or parent jurisdiction receiving FTA funds as a recipient or sub-recipient. TAM is conducted for all assets used in the provision of transit service for which an agency has direct capital responsibility. All assets, both federally funded and not federally funded, are included in the TAM plan.
In addition, included assets are those used by a direct FTA recipient, subrecipient, or contracted third-party provider. Transit providers annually set targets for the fiscal year. They then develop a four-year TAM plan, along with a decision-support tool and analytical process for creating a list of prioritized investments to maintain or replace assets.
Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) are required to adopt TAM targets for providers in their metropolitan planning areas.
Transit Asset Management
TAM in the OKI Region
Transit providers in the OKI TAM planning process are separated into two tiers: Tier I and Tier II. Tier I providers operate rail service or have more than 100 vehicles in regular service. Tier II providers have fewer than 100 regular vehicles in service.
In the OKI region, Metro is the only Tier I transit provider. Butler County Regional Transit Authority (BCRTA); City of Cincinnati (Streetcar); Clermont Transportation Connection (CTC); Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK); and Warren County Transit Service (WCTS) are Tier II agencies. (While they are Tier II, each has elected to develop their own TAM performance measures and targets.)
OKI has compiled data about assets owned by these six public transit agencies, which were grouped into four categories: rolling stock, equipment, facilities, and infrastructure. This data was then used to develop regional transit performance measures and targets for each.
As Group TAM sponsor for the region, OKI is tasked with developing a Tier II Group TAM Plan for Tier II specialized transportation service agencies within the region. There were 21 Tier II agencies that chose to participate in the Group TAM Plan. OKI compiled data about the assets owned by these Tier II agencies, with the intent of informing future investment priorities for the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors & Individuals with Disabilities (Section 5310) program. Using this data, OKI has developed performance targets for the Tier II agencies in the region.
Additional information on the Tier II Group TAM Plan can be found in the Group Transit Asset Management Plan.