Santa Fe Trails 2026 Updated Public Transit Agency Safety Plan (Resolution)

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10776.1 1
CITY OF SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO1
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-__2
INTRODUCED BY:3
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Councilor Alma Castro5
Councilor Patricia Feghali6
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A RESOLUTION10
APPROVING THE UPDATED SANTA FE TRAILS AGENCY SAFETY PLAN AND11
DIRECTING ITS SUBMISSION TO THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION.12
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Transportation (“NMDOT”), Federal13
Transit Administration (“FTA”) requires certain operators of public transportation systems to14
develop or update Agency Safety Plans (“ASP”s) that include processes and procedures for the15
agency’s Safety Management Systems, which consists of 1) Safety Management Policy, 2) Safety16
Risk Management, 3) Safety Assurance, and 4) Safety Promotion; and17
WHEREAS, other requirements under the federal regulation, 49 CFR Part 673, require18
the following:19
1. Performance targets based on the safety performance criteria established under the20
National Public Transportation Safety Plan (“NPTSP”);21
2. Adherence to all applicable requirements and standards as set forth in the FTA’s22
Public Transportation Safety Program (“PTSP”) and NPTSP; and23
3. Establishment of a process and timeline for conducting an annual review and update24
of the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (“PTASP”); and25

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WHEREAS, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law adopted in 2022 requires transit agencies1
that receive federal funds under FTA’s Urbanized Area Formula Grants,49 U.S.C. § 5307, to update2
their ASP; and3
WHEREAS, in particular, grant recipients in communities with populations of 200,000 or4
fewer must develop their ASP “in cooperation with frontline employee representatives”; and5
WHEREAS, Santa Fe Trails is the City of Santa Fe’s public bus system that provides a6
city-wide network of public transportation; and7
WHEREAS, Santa Fe Trails is a recipient of Urbanized Area Formula Grant funds and8
therefore is required to submit an updated safety plan; and9
WHEREAS, the Public Works Department, Transit Division, prepared the Santa Fe Trails10
Agency Safety Plan, updated on July 21, 2026, in coordination with frontline employee11
representatives.12
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE13
CITY OF SANTA FE that the Governing Body approves the updated Santa Fe Trails Agency14
Safety Plan, attached hereto as Exhibit A.15
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governing Body directs the City Manager to16
direct staff to submit the updated Santa Fe Trails Agency Safety Plan, attached hereto as Exhibit17
A, to the FTA and NMDOT.18
PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED this ______day of ___________, 2026.19
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MICHAEL J. GARCIA, MAYOR23
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ATTEST:3
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GERALYN F. CARDENAS, CITY CLERK6
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APPROVED AS TO FORM:8
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_________________________________10
MARCOS D. MARTÍNEZ, CITY ATTORNEY11
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Legislation/2026/Resolutions/Santa Fe Trails 2026 Updated Public Transit Agency Safety Plan25Marcos D. Martínez (Aug 19, 2026 10:06:05 MDT)
Marcos D. Martínez

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Santa Fe Trails
Agency Safety Plan
May 2026

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Santa Fe Trails Agency Safety Plan
July 1, 2026
Table of Contents
1. TRANSIT AGENCY INFORMATION ................................................................................................................... 2
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION .....................................................................................................................................................3
2. PLAN DEVELOPMENT, APPROVAL, AND UPDATES .......................................................................................... 5
3. SAFETY PERFORMANCE TARGETS ................................................................................................................... 6
4. SAFETY MANAGEMENT POLICY ...................................................................................................................... 8
SANTA FE TRAILS SAFETY MANAGEMENT POLICY STATEMENT (SMPS).....................................................................................8
SAFETY MANAGEMENT POLICY COMMUNICATION ..............................................................................................................11
AUTHORITIES, ACCOUNTABILITIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES ....................................................................................................12
EMPLOYEE SAFETY REPORTING PROGRAM.........................................................................................................................14
5. SAFETY RISK MANAGEMENT (SRM) ...............................................................................................................16
SAFETY HAZARD IDENTIFICATION .....................................................................................................................................18
SAFETY RISK ASSESSMENT ..............................................................................................................................................21
SAFETY RISK MITIGATION ..............................................................................................................................................22
6. SAFETY ASSURANCE......................................................................................................................................24
SAFETY PERFORMANCE MONITORING AND MEASUREMENT ..................................................................................................24
7. SAFETY PROMOTION ....................................................................................................................................29
COMPETENCIES AND TRAINING .......................................................................................................................................29
SAFETY COMMUNICATION..............................................................................................................................................32
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION..............................................................................................................................35
APPENDIX A: DEFINITIONS ................................................................................................................................36
APPENDIX B: ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................40
APPENDIX C: CITY OF SANTA FE ASP APPROVAL DOCUMENTATION ...................................................................41
APPENDIX D: CERTIFICATION DOCUMENTATION ...............................................................................................42
APPENDIX E: SANTA FE TRAILS SAFETY RISK ASSESSMENT MATRIX ....................................................................43
APPENDIX F: SANTA FE TRAILS ORGANIZATIONAL CHART ..................................................................................45

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1. Transit Agency Information
Transit Agency Name Santa Fe Trails
Transit Agency Address Santa Fe Trails, 2931 Rufina St. Santa Fe NM, 87507
Name and Title of
Accountable Executive
Andrew Baca, Director of Operations and Maintenance
The Accountable Executive meets the requirements in 49 CFR § 673.5 and
$673.23(d)(1). Please see the Roles and Responsibilities of the Accountable
Executive in Section 4-Safety Management Policy.
Name of SMS
Executive/Chief Safety
Officer
Gabrielle Chavez, Director of Administration
The SMS Executive meets the requirements of § 673.5 and $673.23(d)(2).
Please see the Roles and Responsibilities of the SMS Executive in Section 4-
Safety Management Policy.
Mode(s) of Service
Covered by This Plan Fixed-route Bus and
Demand Response
List All FTA Funding
Types (e.g., 5307,
5310, 5311)
5307, 5310, 5339
Mode(s) of Service
Provided by the Transit
Agency (Directly
operated or contracted
service)
Fixed-route Bus – directly operated
Demand Response – directly operated
Does the agency
provide transit services
on behalf of another
transit agency or entity?
NO Description of
Arrangement(s) N/A
Name and Address of
Transit Agency(ies) or
Entity(ies) for Which
Service Is Provided
N/A

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System Description
History
In 1991, the City of Santa Fe ordinance was passed enabling the formation of Santa Fe Trails. The
purpose of this legislation was to:
• provide safe and efficient transit services
• reduce congestion, crashes, and pollution caused by single-occupant vehicles;
• extend the life of the city's roads by reducing traffic;
• provide transportation alternatives to residents, particularly transit-dependent groups such as
seniors, youth, low- income, and mobility-impaired residents;
• provide residents with better access to education and higher-paying jobs, and;
• reduce oil dependence by incorporating the use of alternative fuels; such as CNG.
Governing Body
Santa Fe Trails is governed by the Transit Advisory Board (TAB) along with the Mayor and an eight-
member Council that represents the four districts within the City of Santa Fe. The TAB consists of nine
representatives who represent Seniors, At-large, ADA, Business, Tourism, Intuitions and Government,
and Education.
Description
Established in January 1993, Santa Fe Trails is the City of Santa Fe's public transit system, providing
fixed-route, circulator, ADA complementary paratransit, and senior transportation services throughout
the City of Santa Fe and portions of Santa Fe County. The agency operates ten fixed routes with a fleet
of 27 revenue vehicles, Santa Fe Pick-Up fare-free circulator service, and Santa Fe Ride, the City's ADA
complementary paratransit and senior transportation service, utilizing accessible Ford Transit and Ford
E-Transit vehicles. As the nation's first public transit system to operate an entirely compressed natural
gas (CNG) fixed-route fleet, Santa Fe Transit remains committed to providing safe, reliable, accessible,
and sustainable transportation, carrying more than 500,000 passenger trips annually.
Santa Fe Trails Executive Leadership
The Director of Operations and Maintenance serves as the Accountable Executive for the City of Santa
Fe Transit Division’s Agency Safety Plan and Safety Management System and is also responsible for the
Transit Asset Management (TAM) Plan. The Director of Operations and Maintenance also presently has
safety oversight responsibilities. Santa Fe Trails does not have a safety manager position, therefore the
Transit Director of Administration serves as the SMS Executive.
Goals
• provide a level of service that meets or exceeds industry standards;
• identify, eliminate, minimize, and control safety hazards and their associated risks, and;
• comply with the applicable requirements of regulatory agencies; and
• update Agency Safety Plan (ASP) in cooperation with front line transit worker representatives.
Agency Safety Plan and Safety Management System (SMS)
Santa Fe Trails developed this safety plan to comply with 49 CFR Part 673, the PTASP regulation. This
plan also serves as an “SMS user’s manual” that guides Santa Fe Trails in the successful implementation
and operation of its SMS.

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The FTA defines SMS as:
The formal, organization-wide approach to managing safety risk and assuring the effectiveness
of a transit agency’s safety risk mitigation. SMS includes systematic procedures, practices, and
policies for managing hazards and safety risk.
49 C.F.R. § 673.5
Furthermore, SMS is a comprehensive, collaborative approach that brings management and labor
together to build on the transit industry’s existing safety foundation to control risk better, detect and
correct safety problems earlier, share and analyze safety data more effectively, and measure safety
performance more carefully. The SMS is appropriately scaled to size, scope, and complexity of Santa Fe
Trails.
Santa Fe Trails’ SMS has four distinct components, which are discussed in subsequent sections of this
safety plan:
• Safety management policy
• Safety risk management
• Safety assurance
• Safety promotion

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2. Plan Development, Approval, and Updates
Name of Entity that
Drafted this Plan
Santa Fe Trails
Signature by the
Accountable Executive
Signature of Accountable Executive Date of Signature
Director of Operations and Maintenance
Approval by the Board
of Directors or an
Equivalent Authority
Name of Entity that Approved Date of Approval
Santa Fe City Council
Relevant Documentation (title and location)
City Council Minutes link
Certification by
State Department of
Transportation N/A
Version Number and Updates
Version
Number
Section/Pages
Affected Reason for Change Date Issued
1 New Document 12/2021
2 Update 12/2022
3 Reviewed – No Update Needed 12/2023
4 Updated 6/2024
5 Updated 5/2025
6 Updated 7/2026
Annual Review and Update of the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan
The Accountable Executive and SMS Executive will jointly review and update the Santa Fe Trails Agency Safety Plan,
including its safety performance targets, by July 1st of each year. The Santa Fe Trails Agency Safety Plan is developed
and updated in coordination with frontline transit worker representatives, as stipulated in the AFSCME bargaining
agreement and 49 CFR Part 674. The union will appoint a shop steward to serve as a liaison for frontline transit
workers. Santa Fe Trails Agency will invite the shop steward and union leadership to participate in developing and
revising the safety plan. This shop steward, along with union leadership, will provide feedback, propose changes,
request updates, and initiate agreements on behalf of frontline workers. These proposals, updates, and agreements
are then presented as agenda items at the monthly employee meetings. The Accountable Executive will review and
approve any changes to the plan, sign the updated version, and submit it to the Santa Fe City Council for final review
and approval.

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3. Safety Performance Targets
Targets Fixed Route Demand Response
Major Events (total) 15 2
Major Events Rate 2 2
Collision Rate 1 0
Pedestrian Collision Rate 1 0
Vehicular Collision Rate 1 1
Fatalities (total) 0 0
Fatality Rate 0 0
Transit Worker Fatality Rate 0 0
Injuries (total) 14 2
Injury Rate 3 2
Transit Worker Injury Rate 2 3
Assaults on Transit Workers (total) 1 0
Rate of Assaults on Transit Workers 1 0
System Reliability 1.75 miles 2.1 miles
*Per 100,000 VRM*
Safety Performance Target Coordination
The Santa Fe Trails Accountable Executive shares its safety performance targets with the Santa Fe
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) each year after its formal adoption by the Santa Fe City Council.
The Accountable Executive also provides a copy of our formally adopted Safety Plan, including safety
performance targets, to the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT). Santa Fe Trails
personnel are available to coordinate with NMDOT and the MPO in the selection of NMDOT and MPO
safety performance targets upon request.
Targets Transmitted to the
State
State Entity Name Date Targets Transmitted
New Mexico Department of Transportation
Targets Transmitted to the
Metropolitan Planning
Organization(s)
Metropolitan Planning Organization Name Date Targets Transmitted
Santa Fe Metropolitan Planning Organization

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4. Safety Management Policy
Santa Fe Trails Safety Management Policy Statement (SMPS)
To all Santa Fe Trails Staff:
In accordance with the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan
(PTASP) regulation (49 CFR Part 673), Santa Fe Trails has developed this Public Transportation Agency
Safety Plan to establish and maintain a comprehensive Safety Management System (SMS) that promotes
the proactive management of safety risks and the continuous improvement of transit safety
performance. Under the leadership of the Director of Operations and Maintenance, who serves as the
Accountable Executive, Santa Fe Transit is committed to fostering a strong culture of safety and security
throughout the organization. This commitment is further supported by the reinstatement of the City of
Santa Fe's Health and Safety Committee, which provides a collaborative forum for identifying hazards,
reviewing incidents, promoting employee involvement, and advancing workplace safety initiatives.
Through these efforts, Santa Fe Transit seeks to ensure the safety and security of passengers,
employees, contractors, facilities, vehicles, and the public while meeting all applicable federal, state, and
local requirements.
I will support the integration of this Policy Statement to guide us as we adopt and follow the federal
safety guidelines.
Safety has always been a core value and business commitment for Santa Fe Trails. The agency is
dedicated to developing, implementing, maintaining, and continuously improving its daily practices to
ensure the safety of customers, employees, contractors, and the public. To guide the prioritization of
safety and integrate it into everyday operations, Santa Fe Trails will utilize safety management processes
to allocate necessary resources, such as personnel, funding, and technology.
The goal is to promote a robust safety culture and achieve the highest levels of safety performance set
by the FTA. The agency's safety management plan reflects a thoughtful, collaborative approach to
working with frontline transit worker representatives. This recognizes the vital role these workers play in
operating and maintaining the public transportation systems essential to the communities they serve.
By actively engaging with frontline worker representatives, the agency demonstrates a commitment to
open, transparent communication, as well as a willingness to incorporate the insights and concerns of
those on the ground. This collaboration allows for a deeper understanding of the challenges and needs
faced by transit workers, enabling the development of policies and programs that better support them
in their critical duties.
Furthermore, this approach emphasizes the importance of nurturing strong partnerships between
transit agencies, policymakers, and the frontline workforce. This synergy helps ensure the public's
mobility needs are met efficiently and fairly, while also addressing the interests and well-being of the
dedicated individuals who keep transit systems running smoothly. Ultimately, this inclusive stance
towards frontline worker representatives reflects an all-inclusive, people-centered vision for the future
of sustainable, accessible public transportation.
Santa Fe Trails Transit has installed a drop box to enable transit workers to report safety concerns,
including assaults, near-misses, and unsafe acts or conditions to senior management. The drop box
includes protection for workers who report issues, as well as a description of worker behaviors that may
result in disciplinary action.

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To ensure effective communication, Santa Fe Trails Transit will notify employees via email and post
updates publicly on the operator notification board for notification and participation. Additionally, the
transit agency must disseminate the Safety Management Policy throughout its entire organization.
Santa Fe Trails Transit will establish the necessary authorities, accountabilities, and responsibilities for
the management of safety within its organization. This will be done in collaboration with the TAB transit
advisory Board and the AFSCME Union, as they relate to the development and management of the
transit agency's Safety Management System (SMS).
Santa Fe Trails is committed to the following core capacities:
Executive Commitment to Safety - Executive Management will cultivate an organizational culture that
prioritizes safe operations. We will dedicate appropriate resources to develop the PTASP, development
and ensuring safe practices, improving procedures when necessary, and encouraging effective employee
safety reporting and communication. Santa Fe Trails will hold every executive, manager, and employee
accountable for upholding our commitment to safe operations. Santa Fe Trails will leverage multiple
communication channels to keep employees, policymakers, and the broader community informed.
Communication & Training - Frontline worker representatives and employee engagement are crucial to
a well-functioning safety management system (SMS). To enable greater awareness of our safety
objectives, performance targets, and ongoing safety communication, we will develop and fine-tune our
communication systems at every level of the organization. All levels of management must proactively
engage employees and continuously work to keep safety communication simple, honest, and open.
Importantly, all employees will be made aware of the importance of our SMS and trained in any new or
improved safety reporting procedures. Santa Fe Trails will utilize a comprehensive communication
strategy, leveraging all available platforms, to effectively inform its employees, policymakers, and the
broader community.
Responsibility & Accountability - All Santa Fe Trails employees, including managers, frontline workers,
and contractors, are responsible for providing safe and high-quality transit services that meet the
department’s performance standards. Each manager will take an active role in the Safety Management
System (SMS) process, ensuring that Safety Assurance functions are supported and advocated.
Managers are also accountable for overseeing Safety Risk Management in their operational areas,
assessing and mitigating the safety risks associated with identified hazards. Safety performance will be a
significant factor in the annual performance evaluations for all Santa Fe Trails employees and managers.
Employee Reporting - Santa Fe Trails will implement a safety reporting program that empowers all
frontline employees to voice their safety concerns. Employees are required to use this program as part
of the organization's safety management system (SMS). No employee will face retaliation for reporting a
safety issue through the program, unless the report indicates an illegal act, gross misconduct,
negligence, or a deliberate disregard of department and/or City of Santa Fe’s rules and policies.
Performance Monitoring & Measurement - To drive continuous safety improvements, Santa Fe Trails
will establish realistic safety performance measures and targets. A diverse team, including employees
and frontline staff, will work closely with management to ensure the proposed safety risk mitigation
strategies are suitable, beneficial, and impactful.
Review & Evaluation - To measure and improve our safety management system (SMS) performance,
Santa Fe Trails will analyze key safety indicators, review inspections, and evaluate corrective action

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reports. These assessments will inform revisions or development of safety objectives, performance
targets, and the overall Agency Safety Plan, with the aim of driving continuous, effective safety
enhancements. As a living document, the Agency Safety Plan undergoes regular monitoring to ensure its
ongoing applicability and functionality.
We appreciate your full cooperation in creating a safer work environment for our employees and
customers.
Sincerely,
Andrew J. Baca
Director of Operations and Maintenance
Santa Fe Trails Transit – City of Santa Fe

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Safety Management Policy Communication
Santa Fe Trails' Safety Management Policy (SMP) will continue to undergo an annual review. Once the
SMP has been updated and presented before the City’s Governing Body for approval. The Transit
Training Administrator will distribute a physical copy of the Safety Management Policy Statement
(SMPS) and each employee will sign an acknowledgment of receipt during the next bi-monthly staff
training for all employees. Any updates, amendments, or new agreements will be communicated to all
employees during the bi-monthly training sessions, where the SMP will be presented as an agenda item.
Additionally, the SMPS will be posted on facility bulletin boards and presented during a regularly
scheduled Transportation Advisory Board meeting for discussion. This policy will also be provided to all
new hires as part of Transit’s new hire training.

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Authorities, Accountabilities, and Responsibilities
Roles and Responsibilities of the Accountable Executive
The Santa Fe Trails Accountable Executive has ultimate responsibility for carrying out the Agency Safety
Plan. The Accountable Executive has control or direction over the human and capital resources needed
to develop and maintain this Agency Safety Plan.
The Accountable Executive is accountable for ensuring that Santa Fe Trails effectively implements its
SMS throughout the agency and addresses SMS substandard safety performance. The Accountable
Executive is responsible for signing SMS implementation planning documents and endorsing SMS
implementation team membership.
The Accountable Executive may delegate specific responsibilities, but the ultimate accountability for
Santa Fe Trails safety performance cannot be delegated and always rests with the Accountable
Executive.
The Santa Fe Trails Accountable Executive’s roles include, but are not necessarily limited to:
• Decision-making about human and capital resources needed to support asset management, SMS
activities, and capital investments;
• Maintaining the Transit Asset Management (TAM) Plan;
• Signing SMS implementation planning documents, and ensuring that SMS is effectively
implemented throughout Santa Fe Trails public transportation system;
• Ensuring action is taken to address substandard performance in Santa Fe Trails SMS;
• Endorsing SMS implementation team membership;
• Developing and maintaining SMS documentation;
• Directing hazard identification and safety risk assessment;
• Monitoring safety risk mitigation activities;
• Planning safety management training; and
• Providing periodic reports on safety performance.
Roles and Responsibilities of the SMS Executive
The SMS Executive supports the Accountable Executive in developing, implementing, and operating
Santa Fe Trails' SMS. The SMS Executive reports directly to the Accountable Executive for matters
involving SMS.
The SMS Executive’s role includes:
• Assisting in developing and maintaining SMS documentation;
• Assisting in hazard identification and safety risk assessment;
• Assisting in safety risk mitigation activities;
• Assisting in planning safety management training; and
• Other duties as assigned/necessary.
Santa Fe Trails identifies and documents all the SMS-related organizational accountabilities and
responsibilities of the SMS Executive job function, and this documentation is captured and stored in the
Accountable Executive’s office.

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Agency Leadership and Executive Management Roles
Members of Santa Fe Trails' leadership have authorities and responsibilities for the day-to-day
implementation and operation of the agency’s SMS.
Santa Fe Trails Agency Leadership and Executive Management include:
• Director of Maintenance and Operations
• Transit Director of Administration
• Supervisors
• Training Administrator
• Fleet and Facilities Manager
• Transit Advisory Board (TAB)
• City Council
• Mayor
• City Manager
The Agency Leadership and Executive Management are responsible for the following accountabilities
and responsibilities of this plan. Its roles include, but are not necessarily limited to:
• Overseeing the implementation and operation of Santa Fe Trails’ SMS;
• Providing input into the allocation of resources to accomplish the goals and objectives of the
agency safety plan;
• Providing oversight and maintaining compliance with the agency safety plan;
• Modifying policies consistent with the implementation of the agency safety plan;
Key Staff Roles
Santa Fe Trails’ Key Staff has the following accountabilities and responsibilities of this plan. Its roles
include, but are not necessarily limited to:
• Assisting the Accountable Executive and the SMS Executive in developing, implementing, and
operating the SMS. Based on responsibilities and expertise, the Key Staff assist in hazard
identification, safety risk assessment, safety risk mitigation, safety performance monitoring,
safety performance measurement, safety training, and safety communication activities.
• Key staff, including bus operators, dispatchers, maintenance personnel, supervisors, customer
service representatives, and other frontline employees, serve as frontline experts in the
agency's Safety Management System (SMS). Their direct knowledge of transit operations plays a
critical role in hazard identification, safety risk assessment, safety risk mitigation, safety
assurance activities, and the ongoing monitoring of safety and security performance throughout
the organization. Key staff functions that bring experience and expertise to bear on SMS
activities include:
o Managers;
o Supervisors
o Dispatchers;
o Bus Operators;
o Vehicle Mechanics, and;
o Other skilled professionals as needed.

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• Safety Meetings: All staff are mandated to attend our bi-monthly Safety Trainings which are held
every other month . With the purpose of presenting and discussing potential hazards and
strategies to mitigate the consequences of those hazards.
Management and Supervisors are required to attend a weekly meeting with the same mission.
• During the safety meetings, the Agency Safety Plan is presented to frontline safety
representatives.
Employee Safety Reporting Program
Santa Fe Trails has implemented a voluntary safety reporting program that encourages employees to
report any safety concerns, including assaults on transit workers, near-misses, unsafe acts or conditions,
or other issues observed during transit service delivery. This voluntary program operates separately
from the company's mandatory reporting requirements for accidents and incidents.
The employee safety reporting program (ESRP) provides protections for employees who report safety
issues, concerns, or conditions and ensures that discipline will not be applied, and employees have
protection against reprisal or any other adverse action for reporting a safety issue, concern, or
condition.
The ESRP also describes employee behaviors that are not protected under the program and may result
in disciplinary action, such as an employee engaged in an illegal act, committed gross negligence, or
deliberately or willfully disregarded regulations or Santa Fe Trails’ procedures.
The ESRP clarifies:
• What to report, what not to report, and how to report;
• What managers should do when employees report safety concerns;
• How reports are documented; and
• How employees will receive feedback about the results of their reports.
The reporting system is simple to use and available to all Santa Fe Trails employees. Santa Fe Trails' ESRP
addresses the following:
• Who is responsible for developing and managing the employee safety reporting program;
• Timely response to employee safety reports.
• How the agency provides feedback to employees on the action(s) taken to address the reported
safety issue, condition, or concern;
• Investigation of reported safety issues, conditions, or concerns for causal or contributing factors.
• How the transit system documents and reviews safety issues, conditions, or concerns to
determine if a hazard exists; and
• If the issue is determined to be a hazard, how the hazard is then entered into the safety risk
management process.
Santa Fe Trails is committed to providing feedback to its employees who report a safety issue, condition,
or concern. This feedback is provided either directly in a one-on-one conversation or through the safety
meeting platform. The feedback addresses what, if any action, will be taken to address the reported
safety issue, condition, or concern.

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Forms are available in dispatch for employees to fill out and report any safety issues, conditions, or
concerns along with a dispatch log for employees who report over the radio. There is also the ability for
each employee to e-mail a safety issue, concern, or condition directly to management. If an employee
does not have access to e-mail, they can contact the call center at 505-955-2001 and the safety issue,
condition, or concern will be logged and management immediately informed via email. The general
public can also utilize e-mail via the City of Santa Fe website and the call center as mentioned above.
A description of the ESRP is kept in the Accountable Executive’s office at Santa Fe Trails Headquarters.
The ESRP is distributed to all current employees during the training provided on employee safety
reporting and new employees during their new-hire orientation.

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6. Safety Risk Management (SRM)
Santa Fe Trails uses the SRM process as a primary method to ensure the safety of our operations,
passengers, employees, vehicles, and facilities. It is a process wherein hazards and their consequences
are identified, assessed for potential safety risk, and resolved in a manner acceptable to Santa Fe Trails’
leadership. The Santa Fe Trails SRM process allows us to carefully examine what could cause harm,
determine whether we have taken sufficient precautions to minimize the harm, or if further mitigations
are necessary.
The Accountable Executives supported by the SMS Executive leads the Santa Fe Trails SRM process to
identify hazards and consequences, assess safety risk of potential consequences, and mitigate the safety
risk. The results of the SRM process are documented in the Safety Risk Register and referenced
materials.
The SRM process applies to all elements of the system, including operations, maintenance, facilities,
vehicles, personnel recruitment, employee training, and supervision.
Overall, the Santa Fe Trails SRM process includes the following steps that are carried out under the
guidance of the Accountable Executive, supported by the SMS Executive, with input from appropriate
subject matter experts:
• Identify hazards
• Identify the potential consequences of each hazard
• Evaluate consequences in terms of likelihood and severity
• Prioritize risk using our formal risk matrix
• Communicate prioritized risk to the Accountable Executive
• Based on the Accountable Executive’s approval, create safety risk mitigations to eliminate or
reduce the effects of hazards.
• Implement the mitigation
• Create a strategy for monitoring mitigation effectiveness
In carrying out the SRM process, Santa Fe Trails uses the following terms:
• Safety Event – An unexpected outcome resulting in injury or death; damage to or loss of the
facilities, equipment, rolling stock, or infrastructure of a public transportation system; or
damage to the environment.
• Hazard – Any real or potential condition that can cause injury, illness, death, damage to/loss of
facilities, equipment, rolling stock, or infrastructure belonging to SANTA FE TRAILS, or damage to
the environment.
• Risk – Composite of predicted severity and likelihood of the potential effect of a hazard.
• Safety Risk Mitigation – a method(s) to eliminate or reduce the severity and/or likelihood of a
potential consequence of a hazard.
• Consequence – An effect of a hazard involving injury, illness, death, or damage to SANTA FE
TRAILS property or the environment.

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Hazard Identification
All subsequent safety risk management activities are contingent on effectively identifying sources for
hazard identification and the processes to obtain information on hazards.
Santa Fe Trails has developed methods and processes to identify hazards and consequences of the
hazards. Santa Fe Trails considers, as a source for hazard identification, data and information provided
by City Management and the City Council, the FTA, and NMDOT. Santa Fe Trails also considers the
results of its asset condition assessments when performing safety hazard identification activities
through its SMS. The results of the condition assessments and safety risk management activities help
inform Santa Fe Trails’ determination as to whether an asset meets the state of good repair standards
under 49 CFR Part 625. Santa Fe Trails also evaluates safety information obtained from incidents,
accidents, near misses, close calls, unsafe conditions, and employee safety reports to proactively
identify hazards before injuries, damage, or service disruptions occur.
The Accountable Executive, supported by the SMS Executive, is responsible for overseeing and
facilitating Santa Fe Trails’ hazard identification process. The Accountable Executive is also responsible
for documenting identified hazards and ensuring that subject matter experts identify the potential
consequences of those hazards. Information related to hazard identification and consequence
determination is stored in the Santa Fe Trails’ Safety Risk Assessment register, which is an Excel
spreadsheet that allows for the documentation of all identified safety hazards and the subsequent
activities related to addressing those hazards. This risk register is maintained by the Accountable
Executive. Hazards identified through accidents, incidents, near misses, close calls, safety observations,
and employee reports are documented and evaluated using the same hazard identification process.
The safety hazard identification process helps Santa Fe Trails identify hazards and potential
consequences in the operation and maintenance of the system. Hazards are identified through a variety
of sources, including:
• Employee Safety Reporting
• Review of Vehicle Camera Footage
• Review of Monthly Performance Data Sheets
• Data and information regarding exposure to infectious diseases provided by the Center for
Disease control (CDC) or a State health authority
• Safety concerns identified through the agency’s Safety Assurance activities
• Observation from Supervisors
• Maintenance Reports
• Comments from Customers and Passengers
• Employee Safety Meetings
• Manager and Supervisor Safety Meetings
• Results of audits and inspections of vehicles and facilities
• Results of training assessments
• Results of internal safety audits
• Investigations into safety events, incidents, and occurrences
• Investigations and reviews of near misses, close calls, unsafe acts, unsafe conditions, and other
events that had the potential to result in injury, damage, or service disruption
• Safety concerns identified through Safety Assurance activities and;
• FTA, the New Mexico Department of Transportation, and other oversight authority agencies.

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The Accountable Executive, with support from the SMS Executive, reviews these sources for hazards and
documents them in Santa Fe Trails’ safety risk register.
The Accountable Executive also enters hazards into the safety risk register from reviews of the Santa Fe
Trails operations and maintenance, results of audits and observations, and information received from
FTA, New Mexico Department of Transportation, and other oversight authorities, including the National
Transportation Safety Board. This review includes the evaluation of accident trends, incident trends,
near misses, close calls, employee reports, customer complaints, security-related events, and
operational observations to identify emerging hazards and opportunities for risk reduction.
The Accountable Executive or SMS Executive may conduct further analysis of hazards and consequences
entered into the Safety Risk Register to collect information, identify additional consequences, and to
inform management which hazards should be prioritized for safety risk assessment. In following up on
identified hazards, the Accountable Executive or SMS Executive may:
• Reach out to the reporting party, if available, to gather all known information about the
reported hazard;
• Conduct a walkthrough of the affected area, assess the possible hazardous condition(s),
generate visual documentation (photographs and/or video), and take any measurements that
are deemed necessary;
• Conduct interviews with employees in the area to gather potentially relevant information on the
reported hazard;
• Review any documentation associated with the hazard (such as records, reports, procedures,
inspections, technical documents, etc.);
• Contact other departments that may have association with or technical knowledge relevant to
the reported hazard;
• Review any previously-reported hazards of a similar nature; and
• Evaluate tasks and/or processes associated with the reported hazard.
• Review vehicle camera footage, CAD/AVL data, dispatch logs, and other available records
associated with accidents, incidents, near misses, or close calls to identify contributing factors
and potential corrective actions.
Any identified hazard that poses a real and immediate threat to life, property, or the environment must
immediately be brought to the attention of the Accountable Executive and addressed through the SRM
process for safety risk assessment and mitigation. This signifies the belief that immediate intervention is
necessary to preserve life, prevent major property destruction, or avoid harm to the environment that
would constitute a violation of the Environmental Protection Agency or NMDOT environmental
protection standards.
Santa Fe Trails involves subject matter experts in safety hazard identification processes by matching the
experience and expertise of the individual(s) with the type of hazard to be analyzed. For example, if the
hazard is operations related, then the primary subject matter experts will be from operations; if the
hazard is vehicle maintenance related, that type of hazard requires vehicle maintenance expertise and
skills. Frontline employees, including operators, dispatchers, maintenance personnel, supervisors, and
customer service staff, are recognized as subject matter experts and play an important role in identifying
hazards, reporting near misses and close calls, and contributing operational knowledge during hazard
evaluations and safety risk assessments.

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Determination of the potential consequences of hazards drives our safety risk assessment activities.
Hazards in and of themselves do not cause damage. It is the consequences of hazards that cause injuries
and death, destroy property, harm the environment, or impair the ability of a transit provider to deliver
transit services. Santa Fe Trails subject matter experts identify the potential consequences of hazards,
keeping in mind that a single hazard could have many potential consequences. Each potential
consequence is identified and recorded. When evaluating near misses and close calls, Santa Fe Trails
considers what could have reasonably occurred had circumstances been slightly different and uses those
potential consequences to inform safety risk assessments and mitigation strategies.
The Accountable Executive is responsible for ensuring that the documentation of hazards and
consequences is taking place. This includes ensuring that accidents, incidents, near misses, close calls,
and identified unsafe conditions are appropriately documented, evaluated, tracked, and addressed
through the agency's Safety Management System.

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Safety Risk Assessment
Santa Fe Trails has established processes to assess the safety risk associated with identified safety
hazards. These safety risk assessment processes include an assessment of the likelihood and severity of
the potential consequences of identified hazards, taking into account existing mitigations, to determine
if safety risk mitigation is necessary and to inform prioritization of safety risk mitigation.
Assessing the likelihood and severity of hazard consequences is the first step in prioritizing safety risk.
Santa Fe Trails has established a process for assessing the potential safety risks of identified hazards and
prioritizing them accordingly. The agency evaluates safety risk in terms of likelihood (the likelihood of a
consequence occurring) and severity (the seriousness of a consequence, if it does occur). A color-coded
safety risk index provides a rating system that is used in conjunction with a safety risk assessment matrix
to prioritize safety risks. This matrix helps determine the likelihood and severity of potential
consequences, allowing Santa Fe Trails to prioritize safety risks. The specific safety risk assessment
matrix used by the agency is presented here:
To conduct safety risk assessments, Santa Fe Trails selects subject matter experts, front line employees
and the safety committee whose experience and expertise align with the specific hazards or potential of
being evaluated. The Accountable Executive or SMS Executive oversees this assessment process, which
utilizes Santa Fe Trails' established safety risk assessment matrix.
Safety risk prioritization is linked to safety risk mitigation creation utilizing the risk matrix ranking.
Prioritizing our safety risk provides the Accountable Executive with the information needed to make
decisions about resource application. It helps Santa Fe Trails apply its limited time, financial, and human

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resources to the highest priority transit safety risk. The Accountable Executive is the ultimate decision-
maker on applying resources to mitigate high priority transit safety risk.
Safety Risk Mitigation
Santa Fe Trails' safety risk management process culminates in the development of proactive safety risk
mitigation measures. The agency has established processes to identify necessary mitigations and
strategies to reduce the likelihood and severity of safety risks that were assessed during the safety risk
assessment process.
The Accountable Executive, supported by the SMS Executive, is responsible for guiding and overseeing
the subject matter experts involved in the risk mitigation process. Any safety risk mitigations requiring
additional resources or changes to agency policy must be approved by the Accountable Executive.
Santa Fe Trails has implemented a comprehensive process to mitigate its prioritized safety risks. This
process clearly defines when risk mitigation is necessary and assigns specific roles for developing those
mitigations. Key elements include:
• Incorporating guidance from oversight authorities like the FTA or the NMDOT
• Adhering to infectious disease prevention guidelines from the CDC or state health department
• Referencing any required forms
• Documenting and storing the results of the risk mitigation process
Santa Fe Trail’s safety risk mitigation steps include:
• Examining the potential consequences of hazards and their likelihood and severity
• Develop strategies to reduce the likelihood and/or severity of those potential consequences
• Ensure the strategy can be realistically implemented with available resources
• Turn the strategy into a mitigation plan
• Put the mitigation plan into place
• Create a plan for monitoring the effectiveness of the mitigation
Santa Fe Trails develops and documents a strategy to implement a safety risk mitigation plan that drew
on subject matter expertise. These implementation strategies include:
• who is responsible for implementing the mitigation;
• where the mitigation will reside within agency activities;
• how the mitigation will be implemented, and;
• how long should implementation take.
Santa Fe Trails needs to know that its mitigations are working. When we develop mitigation, we also
define and document the way the mitigation will positively impact safety performance so that we can
then monitor whether that positive impact is taking place and if the mitigation is effective. Under the
guidance of the Accountable Executive and/or SMS Executive, the subject matter experts involved in
creating a safety risk mitigation also decide on the best ways to monitor the effectiveness of the
mitigation being implemented. This includes developing and documenting monitoring strategies. Santa
Fe Trails created strategies for monitoring the effectiveness of mitigations. These strategies provide
consistency in monitoring activities, regardless of whether the mitigation is implemented in operations,
maintenance, or administration.

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Santa Fe Trails understands that successful mitigation implementation and monitoring activities depend
on having a process for how it will formally communicate mitigation and monitoring strategies to
operations, maintenance, or administration staff who will implement and monitor the mitigations. Santa
Fe Trails has documented this process. This communication feeds cross-functional ownership in SMS
processes since employees who create the mitigations may not be the same employees that implement
and monitor the mitigations.
Strong documentation of safety risk mitigations feeds safety performance monitoring. Santa Fe Trails
has established and documented how it will record all of its various safety risk mitigation activities and
their outcomes. Within this process, Santa Fe Trails references any forms that it uses during safety risk
mitigation activities and where the completed records of safety risk mitigation activities are stored.
Risk mitigations are accompanied by a Mitigation Implementation Plan (MIP) and a Mitigation
Monitoring Plan (MMP).

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7. Safety Assurance
Santa Fe Trails has established processes to:
• Monitor its operations for compliance with and sufficiency of its policies and procedures;
• Santa Fe Trails works to ensure that it is performing maintenance which is consistent with Santa
Fe Trails’ ability to safely meet its operational requirements and in compliance with all safety
policies and procedures;
• Monitor its operations to identify any safety risk mitigations that may be ineffective,
inappropriate, or that were not implemented as intended;
• Conduct investigations of safety events to identify causal and contributing factors, and;
• Monitor the effectiveness of its employee safety reporting program.
Safety Performance Monitoring and Measurement
Santa Fe Trails has many processes in place to monitor its entire transit system for compliance with
operations and maintenance procedures, including:
• Safety audits;
• Informal inspections of vehicles, facilities, and operations;
• Regular review of on-board camera footage to evaluate operational performance, driver
behavior, security concerns, and specific incidents;
• Investigation of accidents, incidents, near misses, close calls, and safety-related occurrences;
Review and analysis of employee safety reports and frontline observations;
• Safety review prior to the implementation, modification, or expansion of services, facilities,
equipment, or operational procedures; Daily data gathering and monitoring of data relating to
the delivery of service using its Dispatch Management software,
• Monitoring of safety performance indicators, trends, and established safety performance
targets;
• Review of customer complaints, commendations, and security-related reports; and;
• Regular vehicle inspections and preventative maintenance.
Results from the above processes are compared against recent performance trends both quarterly and
annually to determine where corrective actions need to occur. The Accountable Executive enters any
identified non-compliant or ineffective activities, including any resulting mitigations, back into the SRM
process for reevaluation.
Santa Fe Trails also utilizes trend analysis of accidents, incidents, injuries, near misses, close calls,
employee reports, maintenance findings, and security-related events to proactively identify safety
concerns and continuously improve system performance.
Operations Monitoring
The Accountable Executive and operations supervisors are responsible for ensuring and documenting
the system’s compliance with and sufficiency of its operations policies and procedures. Santa Fe Trails
has checklists and forms that it uses to drive and document its operations monitoring activities. This
documentation is stored within Santa Fe Trails’ safety performance monitoring files located in the
Accountable Executive’s office.

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The operational areas that are monitored for compliance with policies and procedures include but are
not limited to:
• Bus operator pre-trip inspections;
• Bus operator abbreviated pre-trip inspections conducted during mid-route and end-of-route
driver change-outs;
• Bus operator behind the wheel performance;
• Bus operator passenger assistance;
• Bus operator emergency response,
• Bus operator compliance with safety and security procedures; and;
• Operations Supervisor and Dispatch activities.
When Santa Fe Trails’ monitoring activities determine lack of compliance with operations policies and
procedures or inadequacies of those policies and procedures, it then uses this information to feed Santa
Fe Trails’ hazard identification and safety risk assessment process.
Within these documented processes, Santa Fe Trails describes:
• the job functions responsible for the different areas of field observations;
• how it will record the results of field observations;
• where these records are stored, and;
• how it will address hazards or safety issues identified during field observations.
Santa Fe Trails has established and documented emergency procedure checklists that supervisors and
dispatchers can readily access to help direct their response to bus operators who may experience an
emergency during revenue service. These procedures include, but are not limited to:
• responding to accidents and incidents;
• evacuating a vehicle under smoke and fire conditions, and;
• responding to potentially dangerous passengers and other security threats.
Vehicle Maintenance Monitoring
Santa Fe Trails monitors the following areas of its vehicle maintenance and documents all monitoring
activities and their results:
• Mechanic skills and performance;
• Adherence to preventive maintenance schedules;
• Effectiveness of corrective maintenance activities, and;
• Maintenance-related vehicle road calls.
Facility Safety Inspections
Santa Fe Trails maintenance management with support from City personnel conduct periodic facility
safety, shop safety, and HAZMAT inspections. These inspections are documented as well as activities to
mitigate any problems identified during the inspections. These records are kept in the Accountable
Executive’s office.
Fire Hazard and Fire Extinguisher Inspections
Santa Fe Fire Department and Risk Management division conduct independent annual fire inspections at
our facilities. Santa Fe Trails utilizes independent contractors to inspect and replace facility and vehicle
and facility fire extinguishers as well as fire safety systems on an annual and as needed basis.

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Field Observations of Service Delivery
Santa Fe Trails has documented processes that it uses to conduct field observations of safety-related
aspects of the following elements of service delivery:
• bus stops;
• bus transfer locations;
• fixed-route schedules and service delivery; and
• paratransit/demand response scheduling and service delivery.
Monitoring Hazardous Material Storage
Maintenance employees shall handle, store, transport, and dispose of hazardous materials in
accordance with manufacturer requirements, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), applicable environmental
regulations, and City safety policies and procedures. Hazardous materials may include, but are not
limited to, fuels, oils, lubricants, coolants, solvents, cleaning agents, paints, adhesives, batteries,
refrigerants, and other chemicals used in transit maintenance operations. Employees shall be trained on
the hazards associated with materials they may encounter and shall utilize appropriate personal
protective equipment (PPE) when handling or working near hazardous substances. All hazardous
materials shall be properly labeled, stored in approved containers and designated storage areas, and
secured to prevent spills, leaks, contamination, or unauthorized access. Spills, releases, or exposures
shall be reported immediately and addressed in accordance with established spill response and
emergency procedures. The agency shall maintain current Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and ensure they are
readily accessible to employees. Proper hazardous materials management is essential to protecting
employee health and safety, preserving the environment, maintaining regulatory compliance, and
ensuring the safe operation of transit facilities and equipment.
Monitoring Tool Use and Equipment Integrity
Maintenance employees shall use only tools and equipment that are appropriate for the specific task
being performed and in accordance with manufacturer instructions, established maintenance
procedures, and applicable safety requirements. Prior to use, employees will inspect all hand tools,
power tools, diagnostic equipment, lifting devices, and specialty tools for damage, excessive wear,
defects, or missing components that could affect safe operation. Defective, damaged, or unsafe tools
shall be immediately removed from service, clearly tagged, and reported to a supervisor for repair or
replacement. Employees shall not modify tools or use tools for purposes other than their intended
design. Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) will be worn when required, and all tools will be
maintained, stored, and secured in a manner that preserves their integrity and prevents injury or
damage. Selecting the correct tool for the job, maintaining tool condition, and following safe operating
practices are essential to reducing workplace hazards, preventing equipment damage, and ensuring the
safe and reliable maintenance of transit vehicles and facilities.
The Accountable Executive, supported by the SMS Executive, has overall responsibility to ensure that
this monitoring is carried out and documented. Field observations are carried out by operations,
maintenance, and administrative staff. If deficiencies are noted during the monitoring process, these
deficiencies are documented and addressed as a source of proactive hazard identification through Santa
Fe Trails’ safety risk management processes. All these service delivery monitoring activities are
documented and stored in the Accountable Executive’s office.

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Risk Mitigation Monitoring
The Accountable Executive with support from the SMS Executive and operations, maintenance, and
administrative staff has responsibility for monitoring operations to identify any safety risk mitigations
that may be ineffective, inappropriate, or not implemented as intended. The actual field monitoring of
the mitigations is often carried out by subject matter experts, including those that assisted in the
creation of the mitigation of the SRM process.
Santa Fe Trails documents how it carries out these monitoring strategies to periodically assess the
effectiveness of safety risk mitigations.
Activities to monitor the effectiveness of safety risk mitigations ultimately assist Santa Fe Trails in
determining whether:
• the existing mitigation is working as desired;
• the existing mitigation needs some modification to work as desired;
• the existing mitigation is not working and needs to be replaced, or;
• the existing mitigation is no longer needed.
The results of mitigation monitoring activities are made available for further safety risk management
activity if needed. Mitigation monitoring documentation is stored in the Accountable Executive’s office.
Safety Event Investigation
Responsibility for Santa Fe Trails safety event investigation process is shared by the Accountable
Executive and the SMS Executive. Actual performance of safety event investigations, including
identifying causal factors, involves not only the Accountable Executive and SMS Executive but also
Operations Supervisors, Maintenance Staff, and Training Staff. Local law enforcement responds to
accident scenes, as well.
Safety event records provide critical baseline information to support SMS implementation, operation,
and safety performance target achievement.
Santa Fe Trails has documented procedures for safety event investigation. Santa Fe Trails has forms,
consistent with industry standards, for documenting the results of safety events as well as the
subsequent investigation. Safety event documentation is on file in the Accountable Executive’s office.
After a safety event investigation is complete, Santa Fe Trails management, with input from subject
matter experts, determines whether the safety event was preventable or non-preventable and based on
that decision, whether discipline of employees involved is required.
Santa Fe Trails takes the process a step further and performs causal analysis of safety events to help
determine if latent organizational factors, beyond individual employee behavior, may have contributed
to the event. The results of causal analysis are documented on a causal analysis form. Records of the
results of the analysis of the forms are kept in the Accountable Executive’s office.
Results of this analysis for causal factors provide potential hazard identification information that may
need to be put through Santa Fe Trails' safety risk management process to reduce the potential risk of
recurrence of a similar accident or incident.

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Employee Safety Reporting Program Monitoring
An effective ESRP supports hazard identification. The Accountable Executive with support from the SMS
Executive is responsible for monitoring the transit agency’s ESRP.
Santa Fe Trails has established and documented the activities it will use on an ongoing basis to monitor
whether its ESRP is effective and achieving desired outcomes. Within this process, Santa Fe Trails has
established criteria that will determine if the program is performing as desired. Some of the criteria
include: volume of reports received, value of reports received, response to reports received in terms of
hazard identification risk assessment and risk mitigation, how information gathered from the ESRP is
shared and communicated, and the timeliness and accuracy of feedback provided to employees who
have reported a safety issue, concern, or condition.
Documentation on all aspects of monitoring the safety reporting program is stored in the Accountable
Executive’s office.
Continuous Improvement
Santa Fe Trails annually assesses its safety performance using key safety indicators to track progress
towards its safety targets and to identify any deficiencies in safety performance against its targets,
including when the agency fails to meet a target. This process also evaluates how effectively the agency
addresses safety risks across all aspects of service delivery.
Santa Fe Trails annual assessment also includes conducting a comprehensive audit of the existing SMS,
examining its policies, procedures, and implementation across all levels of the organization. This
involves meticulously reviewing documentation, observing safety practices in the field, and conducting
interviews with employees at different levels to gain a holistic understanding of the system's
effectiveness. Deficiencies in the agency’s SMS include concerns with the processes and procedures
defined by the agency to carry out its SMS.
Based on the findings of this annual assessment, Santa Fe Trails develops and carries out a plan, under
the direction of the Accountable Executive, to address any identified deficiencies. The plan includes the
agency’s efforts to address underlying hazards and potential consequences through Safety Risk
Management, changing data collection or analysis techniques to better understand what is really going
on, and/or testing and evaluating new approaches to SMS processes.
The results of these assessments are documented and kept on file in the SMS Executive’s office.

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8. Safety Promotion
Competencies and Training
Under the guidance of the SMS Executive, the Santa Fe Trails Training Administrator has the day-to-day
responsibility for the development, delivery, and documentation of all SMS-related safety skill
competencies and SMS training.
Santa Fe Trails has established competencies and training for all operations transit workers and transit
workers directly responsible for safety. Training is provided to employees at-hire and on an ongoing
refresher basis.
Training Needs Analyses
Santa Fe Trails periodically conducts training needs analyses to ensure that its training is up to date, and
addresses critical, safety-related concerns. It carries out these training needs analyses by doing the
following:
• Reviewing existing job descriptions;
• Identifying which positions, including contractors, have direct responsibility for determining
when safety training is needed;
• Determining what SMS roles, responsibilities, and processes are missing from job descriptions,
and;
• Updating job descriptions to reflect SMS practices.
New-Hire Bus Operator Training Program
Santa Fe Trails has comprehensive lesson plans for new-hire, classroom, and hands-on bus operator
training. Continuation of skill training helps it identify hazards, such as training gaps or outdated lesson
plans. Lesson plans and schedules not only assist the instructor in delivering the training but also provide
a record of the content of the training should it be needed for any other purpose. All Santa Fe Trails
new-hire bus operator lesson plans and schedules are kept on file a in the Training Administrator’s
office.
Bus Operator Refresher Training
Santa Fe Trails presently provides monthly bus operator refresher training on a variety of topics,
including defensive driving, bloodborne pathogens, wheelchair securement, emergency procedures,
active shooter, de-escalation, and ergonomics.
Santa Fe Trails maintains lesson plans, agendas, and sign-in sheets to document the content of refresher
training and individual attendance at that training. These documents are on file in the Training
Administrator’s office.
Santa Fe Trails also provides retraining for Bus Operators for performance deficits.
Supervisors, Dispatchers, and Mechanic Training
Supervisors, dispatchers, and mechanics play a critical role in identifying and responding to hazards, and
helping to both proactively and reactively mitigate risk. Training for supervisors, dispatchers, and
mechanics primarily consists of mentoring, coaching, and on-the-job training.

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Mentoring, coaching, and on-the-job training are very appropriate training approaches, but ones that
need to be guided by a structured agenda of topics. Santa Fe Trails has developed checklists with topics
for experienced supervisors, dispatchers, and maintenance staff to use during on-the-job training,
coaching, and mentoring of trainees.
These checklists are also used to document an employee’s satisfactory completion of the training and
include instructor and trainee signatures and the dates the training took place. These documents are
kept on file in the Training Administrator’s office.
SMS Orientation
A cross-functional and multi-level understanding of SMS supports all SMS-related activities. Successful
SMS implementation and operation require employee involvement and ownership at every level of the
agency and within every service-delivery related function. Employees need to understand SMS; what
their role is within SMS; and how they, the organization, and customers benefit from SMS success. This
knowledge will nurture employee "buy-in."
Santa Fe Trails presented SMS orientation sessions for all employee functions and addressed the
implications of SMS for all agency functions. This initiative addressed SMS with experienced employees.
Santa Fe Trails has also plugged information on SMS into all new-hire employee orientations.
Documentation of these orientations, including agenda of topics covered, signatures of trainer/trainee,
are kept on file in the Training Administrator’s office.
Safety Risk Management Orientation for Subject Matter Experts
Successful proactive safety risk mitigation begins with subject matter experts who have a clear
understanding of their responsibilities and the skills required to carry them out.
Employees who participate in safety risk management activities as subject matter experts need to
understand how to carry out their responsibilities. The SMS Executive makes sure that subject matter
experts are orientated on their safety risk management responsibilities, the desired outcomes of safety
risk management activities, and the importance of the effort to Santa Fe Trails' safety performance.
Documentation of the orientation process, as well as the orientations themselves, includes how the
agency:
• assesses hazards for consequences;
• conducts safety risk assessments, and;
• creates safety risk mitigations.
Documentation of this ongoing activity is on file in the Training Administrator’s office.
Safety Performance Monitoring Orientation
The quality of safety performance monitoring is reflected in an agency's overall positive safety
performance. Employees who participate in safety performance monitoring activities need to know how
to carry out their responsibilities. The Accountable Executive and SMS Executive make sure that these
employees receive orientations on what their responsibilities are, the desired outcomes of safety
performance monitoring, and the importance of the effort to overall agency safety performance.
Orientations include how to perform monitoring activities of both internal and contracted operations as

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well as external maintenance activities. Performance monitoring includes such activities as:
• field observations to ensure operations and maintenance policies and procedures are being
followed correctly;
• assessing and documenting employee safety performance; monitoring the effectiveness of
safety risk mitigations, and;
• evaluating the effectiveness of the employee safety program.
Documentation of these activities is kept on file in the Training Administrator’s office.
Orientation on Employee Safety Reporting Program
An effective ESRP is one of the most important tools for hazard identification.
Santa Fe Trails’ ESRP, at a minimum, provides the following information:
• the purpose and benefits of the program;
• guidelines on the types of safety concerns and issues employees should report;
• the reporting methods available to employees (how to report);
• an explanation of how the information will be managed and shared;
• the protections for employees who report safety concerns;
• a description of the operational behaviors that are not protected and may result in discipline,
and;
• the agency's commitment to providing feedback on reported safety concerns.
Agendas of the ESRP orientation and attendance records are on file in the Training Administrator’s
office.
Training Documentation
Training documentation is a source of hazard identification.
Training documentation provides formal proof that employees were trained and shows that employees
received timely certification and recertification in critical skill areas. Up-to-date training documentation
also assists Santa Fe Trails in forecasting future training schedules.
Santa Fe Trails training documentation includes:
• records of training needs analysis for lesson plan development;
• curricula for initial and refresher training;
• training schedules and records of all completed training;
• procedures for revising training materials;
• course assessment materials, and;
• copies of individual employee training records.
Santa Fe Trails records of course completion include:
• date the training was held;
• content covered during the training session;
• length of the session;

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• training format, and;
• signatures of instructor and trainee.
Records of training documentation and course completion are kept on file in the Training
Administrator’s office.
Conflict Training and De-escalation Skills
Santa Fe Trails provides conflict management and de-escalation training to all staff, via on-line training
module and in person training.
Training Monitoring
Santa Fe Trails regularly monitors its training to ensure effectiveness. Specifically, the training
monitoring process addresses the following:
• monitor training to make sure it delivers the necessary SMS skills and information;
• establish a process for reviewing and revising training courses and consider review frequency,
reviewers, and decision-making process for revisions.
Safety Communication
The Accountable Executive and SMS Executive are responsible for ensuring the distribution and
communication of safety and safety performance information throughout Santa Fe Trails. They are
assisted in this responsibility by appropriate managers and supervisors.
Effective safety communication is the foundation for developing robust Safety Management System
(SMS) processes and activities at Santa Fe Trails. Santa Fe Trails regularly informs its workers of safety
actions taken in response to reports submitted through the transit worker safety reporting program. The
department has ensured, and will continue to ensure, that all employees are aware of safety-related
information and responsibilities across multiple communication channels including conveying all reports
to frontline transit worker representatives. This includes providing clear explanations, documentation,
training, and notifications about any changes to relevant policies, activities, or procedures. Santa Fe
Trails has documented its comprehensive approach to safety communication and supporting activities,
which is maintained on file in the Accountable Executive's office.
In general, Santa Fe Trails’ documentation of safety communication includes details about:
• objectives of the communication;
• content;
• target audience;
• format;
• frequency of the communication; and
• ways to ensure communication was understood.
Safety Meetings
Santa Fe Trails holds monthly employee safety meetings. These safety meetings provide a strong
platform for safety-related communication and dialogue, identification of safety hazards, concerns, and

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issues, and the delivery of refresher training. It is through employee safety meetings that the agency
conveys the results of cooperation with frontline transit worker representatives in updating the
Agency’s Safety Plan
Agendas for these meetings are comprehensively documented.
Santa Fe Trails’ documentation of its safety meeting process includes:
• How often employee safety meetings are scheduled; The job functions and frontline transit
worker representatives that are required or encouraged to attend meetings; How safety,
security, operational, maintenance, customer service, incident, accident, near miss, and close-
call topics are identified and selected for discussion; ;
• How identified concerns, recommendations, and corrective actions are documented and
addressed; and
• How employee safety meetings provide frontline transit workers and their representatives with
opportunities to participate in the Safety Management System (SMS), identify hazards, report
safety concerns, recommend mitigations, review safety performance, and provide input into the
development and updates of the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP).
Organization-Wide Communication of Safety Hazard and Safety Risk Information
A goal of safety risk management processes is to reduce safety risk for employees and customers.
Safety-sensitive employees are always vulnerable to the consequences of safety hazards within the
transit environment. Timely reporting to employees of newly identified safety hazards and the safety
risks those hazards present can help reduce that vulnerability.
Santa Fe Trails has documented procedures for communicating hazards. The Accountable Executive and
SMS Executive are responsible for making sure this communication takes place. The documentation of
these procedures is on file in the SMS Executive’s office.
Communication about Safety Risk Mitigations
Santa Fe Trails is committed to informing employees at every level of operations about the safety risk
mitigations it is putting into effect. The reasons it provides this information are:
• it tells employees that the transit agency is doing all it can to reduce risk;
• it brings attention to employee roles and responsibilities that may be affected by new
mitigations, and;
• informed employees are better situated to be a source of information on determining how well
mitigations are working.
Santa Fe Trails has documented its procedures for communicating safety risk mitigations to employees
along with who is responsible for making sure this communication takes place. The Accountable
Executive and SMS Executive share responsibility for making sure that this communication takes place.
This documentation is on file in the SMS Executive’s office.
Organization-Wide Communication of Agency Safety Performance
Transit agencies implement SMS to help them continuously improve their safety performance.
Communicating agency safety performance information promotes employee "buy-in" to SMS processes,

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thus further improving the agency's overall safety performance.
Santa Fe Trails employees should have ownership of safety. To reinforce this ownership, Santa Fe Trails
periodically communicates statistics on the agency's overall safety performance to all employees
regardless of job function. This includes providing information on Santa Fe Trails’ status related to
achieving its safety performance targets.
Santa Fe Trails has documented how it communicates safety performance information throughout its
organization. The Accountable Executive is responsible for taking the lead on this communication and
making sure that it takes place. The documented procedures are on file in the SMS Executive’s office.

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Additional Information
Santa Fe Trails will maintain documents that describe the programs, policies, and procedures it uses to
carry out its agency safety plan. It will also maintain documents not included or referenced elsewhere in
this safety plan, related to the implementation of the transit agency’s SMS, as well as results from SMS
processes and activities.
These documents will be maintained for at least three years after their creation and made available
upon request by the FTA, other federal entities, or NMDOT. The Accountable Executive and SMS
Executive will be points of contact to provide Agency Safety Plan-related information to external
agencies to ensure access to these documents.

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Appendix A: Definitions
Accountable Executive means a single, identifiable person who has ultimate responsibility for carrying
out the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan of an agency; responsibility for carrying out the transit
agency's Transit Asset Management Plan; and control or direction over the human and capital resources
needed to develop and maintain both the transit agency's Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan, in
accordance with 49 U.S.C. 5329(d), and the transit agency's Transit Asset Management Plan in
accordance with 49 U.S.C. 5326.
Assault on a transit worker means, as defined under 49 U.S.C. 5302, a circumstance in which an
individual knowingly, without lawful authority or permission, and with intent to endanger the safety of
any individual, or with a reckless disregard for the safety of human life, interferes with, disables, or
incapacitates a transit worker while the transit worker is performing the duties of the transit worker.
CDC means the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States Department of Health
and Human Services.
Direct Recipient means an entity that receives Federal financial assistance directly from the Federal
Transit Administration.
Emergency means, as defined under 49 U.S.C. 5324, a natural disaster affecting a wide area (such as a
flood, hurricane, tidal wave, earthquake, severe storm, or landslide) or a catastrophic failure from any
external cause, as a result of which the Governor of a State has declared an emergency and the
Secretary has concurred; or the President has declared a major disaster under section 401 of the Robert
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170).
Equivalent Entity means an entity that carries out duties similar to that of a Board of Directors, for a
recipient or subrecipient of FTA funds under 49 U.S.C. chapter 53, including sufficient authority to
review and approve a recipient or subrecipient's Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan.
FTA means the Federal Transit Administration, an operating administration within the United States
Department of Transportation.
Hazard means any real or potential condition that can cause injury, illness, or death; damage to or loss
of the facilities, equipment, rolling stock, or infrastructure of a public transportation system; or damage
to the environment.
Injury means any harm to person(s) as a result of an event that requires immediate medical attention
away from the scene.
Investigation means the process of determining the causal and contributing factors of a safety event,
incident, or hazard, for the purpose of preventing recurrence and mitigating safety risk.
Joint labor-management process means a formal approach to discuss topics affecting transit workers
and the public transportation system.
Large urbanized area provider means a recipient or subrecipient of financial assistance under 49 U.S.C.

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5307 that serves an urban area with a population of 200,000 or more as determined by the most recent
decennial Census.
National Public Transportation Safety Plan means the plan to improve the safety of all public
transportation systems that receive Federal financial assistance under 49 U.S.C. chapter 53.
Near-miss means a narrowly avoided safety event.
Operator of a public transportation system means a provider of public transportation.
Performance measure means an expression based on a quantifiable indicator of performance or
condition that is used to establish targets and to assess progress toward meeting the established
targets.
Potential Consequence means the effect of a hazard.
Public transportation means, as defined under 49 U.S.C. 5302, regular, continuing shared-ride surface
transportation services that are open to the general public or open to a segment of the general public
defined by age, disability, or low income; and does not include:
(1) Intercity passenger rail transportation provided by the entity described in 3 49 CFR part 673 Changes
(April 2024) 49 U.S.C. chapter 243 (or a successor to such entity);
(2) Intercity bus service;
(3) Charter bus service;
(4) School bus service;
(5) Sightseeing service;
(6) Courtesy shuttle service for patrons of one or more specific establishments; or
(7) Intra-terminal or intra-facility shuttle services.
Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan means the documented comprehensive agency safety plan
for a transit agency that is required by 49 U.S.C. 5329 and this part.
Rail fixed guideway public transportation system means any fixed guideway system, or any such system
in engineering or construction, that uses rail, is operated for public transportation, is within the
jurisdiction of a State, and is not subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Railroad Administration. These
include but are not limited to rapid rail, heavy rail, light rail, monorail, trolley, inclined plane, funicular,
and automated guideway.
Rail transit agency means any entity that provides services on a rail fixed guideway public
transportation system.
Recipient means a State or local governmental authority, or any other operator of a public
transportation system, that receives financial assistance under 49 U.S.C. chapter 53.
Roadway means land on which rail transit tracks and support infrastructure have been constructed to
support the movement of rail transit vehicles, excluding station platforms.
Safety Assurance means processes within a transit agency's Safety Management System that functions
to ensure the implementation and effectiveness of safety risk mitigation, and to ensure that the transit

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agency meets or exceeds its safety objectives through the collection, analysis, and assessment of
information. 4 49 CFR part 673 Changes (April 2024)
Safety Committee means the formal joint labor-management committee on issues related to safety that
is required by 49 U.S.C. 5329 and this part.
Safety event means an unexpected outcome resulting in injury or death; damage to or loss of the
facilities, equipment, rolling stock, or infrastructure of a public transportation system; or damage to the
environment.
Safety Management Policy means a transit agency's documented commitment to safety, which defines
the transit agency's safety objectives and the accountabilities and responsibilities for the management
of safety.
Safety Management System (SMS) means the formal, organization-wide approach to managing safety
risk and assuring the effectiveness of a transit agency's safety risk mitigation. SMS includes systematic
procedures, practices, and policies for managing hazards and safety risk.
Safety Management System (SMS) Executive means a Chief Safety Officer or an equivalent.
Safety performance target means a quantifiable level of performance or condition, expressed as a value
for the measure, related to safety management activities, to be achieved within a specified time period.
Safety Promotion means a combination of training and communication of safety information to support
SMS as applied to the transit agency's public transportation system.
Safety risk means the composite of predicted severity and likelihood of a potential consequence of a
hazard.
Safety risk assessment (SRA) means the formal activity whereby a transit agency determines Safety Risk
Management priorities by establishing the significance or value of its safety risk.
Safety risk management means a process within a transit agency's Public Transportation Agency Safety
Plan for identifying hazards and analyzing, assessing, and the mitigating safety risk of their potential
consequences.
Safety risk mitigation means a method or methods to eliminate or reduce the severity and/or likelihood
of a potential consequence of a hazard.
Safety set-aside means the allocation of not less than 0.75 percent of assistance received by a large
urbanized area provider under 49 U.S.C. 5307 to safety related projects eligible under 49 U.S.C. 5307.
Small public transportation provider means a recipient or subrecipient of Federal financial assistance
under 49 U.S.C. 5307 that has one hundred (100) or fewer vehicles in peak revenue service across all
non-rail fixed route modes or in any one non-fixed route mode and does not operate a rail fixed
guideway public transportation system.
State means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana

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Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands.
State of good repair means the condition in which a capital asset is able to operate at a full level of
performance.
State Safety Oversight Agency means an agency established by a State that meets the requirements and
performs the functions specified by 49 U.S.C. 5329(e) and (k) and the regulations set forth in 49 CFR part
674.
Subrecipient means an entity that receives Federal transit grant funds indirectly through a State or a
direct recipient.
Transit agency means an operator of a public transportation system. that is a recipient or subrecipient
of Federal financial assistance under 49 U.S.C. 5307 or a rail transit agency.
Transit Asset Management Plan means the strategic and systematic practice of procuring, operating,
inspecting, maintaining, rehabilitating, and replacing transit capital assets to manage their performance,
risks, and costs over their life cycles, for the purpose of providing safe, cost-effective, and reliable public
transportation, as required by 49 U.S.C. 5326 and 49 CFR part 625.
Transit worker means any employee, contractor, or volunteer working on behalf of the transit agency.
Urbanized area means, as defined under 49 U.S.C. 5302, an area encompassing a population of 50,000
or more that has been defined and designated in the most recent decennial census as an urban area by
the Secretary of Commerce.

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Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations
Acronym or Abbreviation Meaning
ADA Americans with Disabilities Act
ASP Agency Safety Plan
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CNG Compressed Natural Gas
ESRP Employee Safety Reporting Program
FTA Federal Transit Administration
NMDOT New Mexico Department of Transportation
MPO Metropolitan Planning Organization
PTASP Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan
SMPS Safety Management Policy Statement
SMS Safety Management System
SRM Safety Risk Management
TAB Transit Advisory Board
TAM Transit Asset Management

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Appendix C: City of Santa Fe ASP Approval Documentation
City Council Minutes link for the approval Santa Fe Trails Safety Plan

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Appendix D: Certification Documentation
On___________________, Santa Fe Trails provided an updated safety plan to
ensure full compliance with Federal requirements. This update was sent to
New Mexico Department of Transportation, Transit and Rail Division.
____________________________
Gabrielle N. Chavez,
Transit Director of Administration

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Appendix E: Santa Fe Trails Safety Risk Assessment Matrix
Risk Assessment Matrix
SEVERITY
LIKELIHOOD
Catastrophic
(1)
Critical
(2)
Marginal
(3)
Negligible
(4)
Frequent (A) High High High Medium
Probable (B) High High Medium Medium
Occasional (C) High Medium Medium Low
Remote (D) Medium Medium Low Low
Improbable (E) Medium Low Low LowDefinition Category Meaning Value
Critical Could result in one or more of the following: permanent partial disability, injuries or
occupational illness that may result in hospitalization of at least one person, property
damage exceeding $25,000 but less than $250,000, system shut down lasting between 10
minutes and 4 hours, or reversible significant environmental impact causing a violation of
law or regulation.
2
Marginal Could result in one or more of the following: injury or occupational illness
resulting in one or more lost work day(s), reversible moderate environmental
impact without violation of law or regulation, or monetary loss up to
$25,000, or system shutdown of less than 10 minutes
3
Severity of the Consequence
Catastrophic Could result in one or more of the following: death, permanent total
disability, irreversible significant environmental impact that violates law or
regulation, or monetary loss equal to or exceeding $250,000.
1
Negligible Could result in one or more of the following: injury or occupational illness
not resulting in a lost work day, minimal environmental impact, or monetary
loss less than $25,000.
4

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Safety Risk Levels
Risk Assessment Matrix Color Code
Risk Assessment Matrix Color CodeQualitative Definition Meaning Value
Frequent Likely to Occur Frequently - more than once per month A
Probable Likely to Occur less than once per month but more than once per year B
Occasional Likely to Occur less than once per year but more than once per decade C
Remote Very Unlikely to Occur - once in the life of the system D
Improbable Almost inconceivable that the event will occur in the life of the system E
“Tolerability” based on identified severity and likelihood.
Unacceptable under the existing circumstances.
Acceptable based upon mitigations; monitoring is
necessary.
Acceptable under existing circumstances; with
senior management approval.

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Appendix F: Santa Fe Trails Organizational Chart