Performance-based Planning and Programming—Transit Safety Targets

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The Boston Region MPO envisions an equitable, pollution-free, and modern regional transportation system that gets people to their destinations safely, easily, and reliably, and that supports an inclusive, resilient, healthy, and economically vibrant Boston region.

-Destination 2050 Vision

On February 15, 2024, the MPO board voted to adopt updated transit safety performance targets based on targets set by the MBTA, the Cape Ann Transportation Authority (CATA), and the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA). These targets pertain to (1) the number and rate of fatalities; (2) the number and rate of injuries; (3) the number and rate of safety events; and (4) system reliability, which is measured in vehicle-revenue miles per major mechanical failure. These targets are set by mode and reflect either calendar year (CY) 2024 or state fiscal year (SFY) 2024, depending on the agency. For more information about transit safety performance requirements and these targets, please refer to the memorandum titled Transit Safety Performance Requirements and Targets—2024 Update (PDF) Transit Safety Performance Requirements and Targets—2024 Update(HTML).

MBTA CY 2024 Safety Performance Targets

MBTA Mode

Fatalities 
Target

Fatality 
Rate 
Targeta

Injuries 
Target

Injury 
Rate 
Targeta

Safety 
Events 
Target

Safety 
Event 
Rate 
Targeta

System 
Reliability 
Targetb

Heavy Rail

0.0

0.0

170.0

8.13

23.0

1.11

49,000.0

Light Rail

0.0

0.0

79.0

14.04

27.0

4.74

7,900.0

Bus

0.0

0.0

252.0

11.3

88.0

3.93

28,500.0

The RIDEc

0.0

0.0

23.0

2.53

29.0

3.28

25,900.0

a Fatality, injury, and safety event rates are expressed per one million VRM.  
  Rate values have been rounded to the nearest tenth. 
b The system reliability measure is expressed as mean VRM traveled per major mechanical failure. 
c The injuries target for The RIDE remains the same as past averages due to rounding. 
CY = calendar year. MBTA = Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. VRM = vehicle revenue-miles. 
Source: MBTA and the Boston Region MPO staff. 

CATA SFY 2024 Safety Performance Targets

CATA Mode

Fatalities 
Target

Fatality 
Rate 
Targeta

Injuries 
Target

Injury 
Rate 
Targeta

Safety 
Events 
Target

Safety 
Event 
Rate 
Targeta

System 
Reliability 
Targetb

Fixed-Route Bus

0.0

0.0

1.0

0.5

2.5

1.5

115,000.0

Demand Response

0.0

0.0

1.0

0.5

1.5

1.0

135,000.0

Note: Values have been rounded to the nearest tenth. 
a Fatality, injury, and safety event rates are expressed per one hundred thousand VRM. 
b The system reliability measure is expressed as mean VRM traveled per major mechanical failure. 
CATA = Cape Ann Transportation Authority. SFY = state fiscal year. VRM = vehicle revenue-miles. 
Source: CATA and the Boston Region MPO staff.

MWRTA SFY 2024 Safety Performance Targets

MWRTA Mode

Fatalities 
Target

Fatality 
Rate 
Targeta

Injuries 
Target

Injury 
Rate 
Targeta

Safety 
Events 
Target

Safety 
Event 
Rate 
Targeta

System 
Reliability 
Targetb

Fixed-Route Bus

0.00

0.00

10.00

0.8

10.0

0.8

75,000

Demand Response

0.00

0.00

8.00

1.0

8.0

0.8

75,000

Note: Values have been rounded to the nearest tenth 
a Fatality, injury, and safety event rates are expressed per one hundred thousand VRM. 
b The system reliability measure is expressed as mean VRM traveled per major mechanical failure. 
MWRTA = MetroWest Regional Transit Authority. VRM = vehicle revenue-miles. 
Source: MWRTA and the Boston Region MPO.