Protocol for Altering Operations due to

Severe Weather and/or Hazardous Road Conditions

 

 

Purpose:

Outline the proper procedure for evaluating safe operating limits for public service on Bend Area Transit vehicles during events such as severe weather that create hazardous road conditions.

 

Decision Making Process:

Bend Area Transit Manager and the Operations Manager (Contracted Vendor) will work as a team to best decide when operations should be adjusted due to safety concerns.  The need to provide the residents and visitors of Bend with public transportation at times when they are often most needed will be weighed against the desire to provide safe transportation that does not put the public at greater risk than regularly exists.  They will utilize all readily available information from the following sources:

  • Road Supervisor observation & assessment
  • City of Bend Public Works Department – Streets Division Staff
  • Bend Police Department
  • Bend Area Transit drivers currently on routes, fixed or demand response
  • National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration on-line resources
  • ODOT – online Trip-check cameras and reports

Changes to the operational level of Dial-a-Ride and each fixed route can be made independently.  It is noteworthy that severe weather conditions can be dramatically different in each city quadrant.

 

Dial-a-Ride: Alternative Operation Levels and Customer Service Requirements

    1. Yellow – Rides scheduled in pre-identified areas of increased road grades will be cancelled.  Riders identified in those areas will receive notification each October in writing, and they will be called when “Yellow” service level has been declared.  We will call emergency services for assistance to riders with life sustaining medical appointments.
    2. Orange – All scheduled riders will be notified that severe conditions exist and they are encouraged to remain home and indoors.  However, rides will not be cancelled without rider approval.
    3. Red –  All riders will be called and notified that only life-sustaining medical trips will be performed, and all other trips will be cancelled in the interest of rider safety.

 

 

Fixed Route: Alternative Operation Levels

1.      Snow Schedule – When snow is on the road surfaces, Bend Area Transit will do its best to maintain published schedules, but reserves the right to have routes operate independent of schedules as conditions demand.

2.      Road Closures – Heavy rainfall or other emergencies can sometimes close roads that are served by BAT routes.  When roads are closed BAT will make all efforts to locate a detour that minimizes the number of lost stops.  Staff will utilize the notification plan during these events.

3.      Snow Routes – Route 3 has a declared snow route, with the route endpoint at the Mt. Washington Drive & Shevlin roundabout as level 1, and the roundabout at College as level 2.

4.      Service Stoppage – Service will be cancelled for routes when the major roads traveled on that route are closed.  All regular service will be cancelled when Deschutes County Emergency Management declares a state of emergency.

 

 

Notification:  As soon as possible, City of Bend staff will be responsible for making the following notifications:

·        Local radio & television stations

·        City of Bend website

·        COCC, area high schools, and major employers (in the case of service stoppage)

The Operations Manager will be responsible for the following notifications:

·        CORIL

·        Bend Work Center/Opportunity Foundation

·        As needed in the event a special service is scheduled.

 

 Staff Preparedness:  This protocol will be incorporated into the driver and dispatcher training programs.  The entire staff will get annual refresher training of this protocol at the annual Winter Preparedness Training, normally held in October.