APTA Standards

APTA has a structured, ongoing industry consensus standard development program with separate committees that cover a series of public transit safety and security practices. According to APTA’s Annual Report on the Standards Development Program, 500 transit industry professionals from across the country participate on 20 transit standards technical development committees. There have been 29 standards developed in the area of Bus Safety. These standards are housed within four areas: Suspension Systems, Bus Maintenance Training, Bus Operations and Safety, and Fire Safety. Links to APTA’s voluntary standards related to “Bus Operations,” “Bus Safety,” and those related to “Security” are linked below.

2013 APTA Standards Program Compendium

Bus Transit Systems Standards

Bus Operations
- APTA-BTS-BO-RP-002-07 Recommended Practice for Transit Supervisor Training
- APTA-BTS-BO-RP-004-09 Developing and Maintaining a Customer Service Culture
- APTA-BTS-BO-RP-001-07 Recommended Practice for Transit Bus Operator Training
- APTA-BTS-BO-RP-003-009 Recruiting and Retaining Bus Operations Employees
Bus Safety
- APTA-BTS-BS-RP-004-09 Fire Thermal Investigation Questionnaire Transit Fire Incidents
- APTA-BTS-BS-RP-001-05 Recommended Practice for Transit Bus Fire Safety Shutdown
- APTA-BTS-BS-RP-006-09 Reducing Agency-Controlled Distractions While Operating a Vehicle on Agency Time
- APTA-BTS-BS-RP-005-09 Reducing Driver-Controlled Distractions While Operating a Vehicle on Agency Time
- APTA-BTS-BS-RP-003-08 RP for Installation of Transit Vehicle Fire Protection Systems
- APTA-BTS-BS-RP-002-07 RP for Transit Bus Electrical System Requirements Related to Fire Safety

Security for Transit Systems Standards

Control and Communications Security
- APTA-SS-CCS-RP-002-13 Securing Control and Communications Systems in Rail Transit Environments Part 2
- APTA-SS-CCS-RP-001-10 Securing Control and Communications Systems in Transit Environments Part 1
Emergency Management
- APTA-SS-SEM-S-005-09 Rev 1 Developing a Contagious Virus Response Plan
- APTA-SS-SEM-RP-009-09 Emergency Communication Strategies for Transit Agencies
- APTA-SS-SEM-RP-007-09 Recommended Practice Creating an Alternate or Backup OCC
- APTA SS-SEM-RP-002-08 Recommended Practice for First Responder Familiarization of Transit Systems
- APTA-SS-SEM-RP-011-09 Recommended Practice Participating in Mutual Aid
- APTA-SS-SEM-RP-012-09 Recommended Practice Responding to Threat Condition Levels
- APTA-SS-SEM-RP-008-09 Recommended Practice Safe Mail and Package Handling
- APTA-SS-SEM-S-006-09 Rev 1 Shelter of Transit Vehicles and Nonrevenue Equipment During Emergencies
- APTA-SS-SEM-S-001-08 Rev 1 Standard for a Continuity of Operations Plan
- APTA-SS-SEM-S-003-08 Rev 1 Standard for Security & Emergency Management Aspects of Special Event Service
- APTA-SS-SEM-S-004-09 Rev 1 Transit Incident Drills and Exercises
- APTA-SS-SEM-WP-013-10 White Paper Operational Strategies for Emergency Smoke Ventilation in Tunnels
Infrastructure Security
- APTA-SS-SIS-RP-009-12 Anti-Vehicle Barriers For Public Transit
- APTA-SS-SIS-RP-008-10 Bus Stop Design and Placement Security Considerations
- APTA-SS-SIS-RP-004-10 Chain Link, Mesh, or Woven Metal Fencing Systems to Control Access
- APTA-SS-SIS-RP-007-10 Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)
- APTA-SS-SIS-RP-015-13 Equipment and Technology
- APTA-SS-SIS-RP-003-10 Fencing Systems to Control Access to Transit Facilities
- APTA-SS-SIS-RP-005-10 Gates to Control Access to Revenue and Nonrevenue Transit Facilities
- APTA-SS-SIS-RP-006-10 Ornamental Fencing Systems to Control Access at Transit Facilities
- APTA SS-SIS-RP-013-13 Physical Security for Public Transit
- APTA-SS-SIS-RP-002-10 Recommended Practice for Security Lighting for Nonrevenue Transit Facilities
- APTA-SS-SIS-RP-001-10 Recommended Practice for Security Lighting for Transit Passenger Facilities
- APTA SS-SIS-S-010-13 Security Considerations for Public Transit
- APTA SS-SIS-RP-012-13 Security Operations for Public Transit
- APTA SS-SIS-RP-11-13 Security Planning for Public Transit
- APTA SS-SIS-WP-014-13 Trash and Recycling Recptacles for Transit Facilities
Security Risk Management
- APTA-SS-SRM-RP-006-11 Random Counterterrorism Measures on Transit Systems
- APTA-SS-SRM-RP-007-12 Recognizing and Responding to Unattended Packages, Objects and Baggage
- APTA SS-SRM-RP-003-09 Recommended Practice Conducting Nonrevenue Vehicle Security Inspections
- APTA-SS-SRM-RP-012-09 Recommended Practice Conducting Revenue Vehicle Security Inspections
- APTA-SS-SRM-RP-004-11 Recommended Practice for Conducting Background Investigations
- APTA-SS-SRM-RP-001-09 Recommended Practice for the Development and Implementation of a Security and Emergency Preparedness Plan (SEPP)
- APTA-SS-SRM-RP-009-09 Recommended Practice Identifying Suspicious Behavior in Mass Transit
- APTA-SS-SRM-RP-005-12 Security Awareness Training
- APTA-SS-SRM-WP-002-10 White Paper on Random Inspections of Carry-On Items in Transit Systems

To find more information about the APTA Standards Program, send an email to standards@apta.com.

APTA Standards

Bus Transit Systems Standards

Security for Transit Systems Standards

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