Safety and Security

Safety is one of Citrus Connection’s core business functions. We are committed to developing, implementing, maintaining, and constantly improving processes to ensure that all our transit service delivery activities take place under a balanced allocation of organizational resources, aimed at achieving the highest level of safety performance and meeting established standards.

Commitment to Safety

• Trained Operators: training in defensive driving, passenger safety, and emergency response.
• Safe Fleet: Our buses are regularly inspected and maintained to meet the safety standards.
• Real-Time Monitoring: Buses are equipped with GPS tracking and security cameras for added safety.

Our employees work hard every day with a goal of keeping employee’s and passengers safe. Security is an important element of our safety efforts. There are several elements we have incorporated into our facilities to enhance security:

We take every precaution to assure your safety and security. But we need you to be a partner with us in keeping our system safe and secure. Here’s how you can help:

Familiarize yourself with the following signs of suspicious activity and report people who:

• Act in a disorderly manner.
• Are alarming and disturbing others.
• Abandon a package and quickly exit the area.
• Carry a weapon or you suspect is carrying a weapon.
• Pace, appear nervous or are jumpy.
• Wear clothing that is extremely inappropriate for the weather, such as a heavy coat on a hot day.

Watch for suspicious packages on the bus or at major bus stops. Most unattended items may simply be lost or left behind. However, look for the following characteristics and report suspicious items to a bus driver or terminal security:

• Placement in an out-of-the-way location
• Attached batteries, wires, tanks, bottles or bags that might contain chemicals or explosives
• An attached message
• A suspicious cloud, mist, gas, vapor, odor or seeping fluid
• Nearby individuals showing signs of illness or distress

The following acts are prohibited on Citrus Connection vehicles and property:

• Smoke, vape or carry any lighted tobacco product or expel the residue of any other tobacco product including chewing tobacco
• Consume any alcoholic beverage or possess an open container of any alcoholic beverage
• Engage in disruptive, disturbing behavior including loud conversation, profanity or rude insults, or operating any electronic device used for sound without an earphone(s)
• Carry, possess or have within immediate access any flammable liquids, combustible material or other dangerous substance such as gasoline, kerosene, propane or explosive materials
• Littering
• Vandalize the vehicle or terminal by writing, marking, scribbling, defacing or causing damage to the vehicle or Citrus Connection facilities in any manner
• Excrete any bodily fluid or spit upon or at another person
• Possess, use or sell any controlled substance
• Lying down on seats, benches or tables on vehicles, at terminals and/ or bus stops
• Loitering, Sleeping, Camping or storing of personal property
• Skating, skateboarding or bike riding on transit property
• Trespassing upon any area that is not open to the public and posted as such
• Only transit and emergency vehicles are allowed inside of the terminal (personal vehicles, Lift/ Uber, Taxi, greyhound, etc. Pick-up/ drop off outside of terminal area)
• Shoes and shirts are required to be worn at all times

When you’re waiting for a bus…

• Arrive at your bus stop five minutes earlier than the scheduled bus departure time.

• Remember: Buses stop for customers standing at bus stops – you do not need to wave at the bus operator to have them stop.
• As a bus approaches, be sure you are standing away from the street – and never, ever try to board a moving bus.
• Never walk in front of or behind a bus.
• Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop and the doors open before trying to board.

While on the bus…

• Sit in available seating when riding the bus. If you must stand, use the handrails and overhead rail to help maintain your balance.
• Never stand or sit in the stairwells inside the bus.
• While the bus is in motion, stay behind the white line located at the front of the bus.
• Obey all instructions given by the bus operator and security officers.
• When the bus pulls up to your stop, remain seated until the bus comes to a complete stop.
• After exiting the bus, never cross directly in front of it. Wait until the bus leaves the stop before crossing the street.

When you’re walking…

• Always stop, look, and listen for buses before crossing the street – cross only at crosswalks and be sure to look both ways.
• Don’t stand on the street or stand in front of a bus – the driver may not see you or be able to stop in time.

When you’re in a car…

• Be careful when passing a stopped bus – passengers may be exiting and crossing the street.
• Always obey all traffic signs and signals; drive carefully when sharing the road with a bus.
• Remember: buses can’t stop as quickly as you can.

If you have children…

• Talk to them about buses – teach them the importance of riding them safely – “Stop, look and listen” is an important message for them to understand.
• Hold children’s hands when crossing the street.
• Take a field trip, go exploring, schedule a time to show your children how to ride a bus.
• Don’t ever play, skate or ride your bike too closely to a bus or bus stop.
• Only exit the bus through the front door.

• Make sure that everyone in your family knows all these safety rules.

Be safe and help others to be safe around Citrus Connection buses.

Citrus Connection invites you to take your bike for a ride with us. Whether you ride your bike to work, or your favorite way to exercise, or riding around Polk County is easier. All buses feature easy to use bike racks, in just a few seconds, you can secure your bike and ride in comfort.

Does Your Bus Stop Need Tender Loving Care?

Your safety is important to us. Citrus Connection wants you to be able to reach your destination safely. If you experience challenges with your bus stop, don’t hesitate to call us.

Citrus Connection makes every effort to ensure bus stops are clean, accessible and safe. Whether it’s cleaning a stop or temporarily moving a bus stop due to construction…we are here to help.

Report Concerns

To report bus stop concerns please contact us:

• Call: (863) 733-4242 or 855-POLKBUS
• Submit online comment or concern: https://ridecitrus.com/contact/

The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) title 49 states that Citrus Connection “may require that wheelchair users make use of securement systems for their mobility devices.” This section gives Citrus Connection the right to choose whether wheelchairs must be tied down. We exercise this right and insists on securing the wheelchair. We require a four-point securement. If the chair cannot be secured using this method, the tie down will be completed as effectively and safely as possible. Customers that do not want their wheelchair secured may not be transported. Shoulder belt/ seat belts use is highly encouraged.

The establishment of safety performance targets for the measures specified by the National Public Transportation Safety Plan (NPTSP) is a requirement of the FTA’s PTASP Final Rule, 49 CFR Part 673.  Citrus Connection’s safety performance targets seek to ensure the mitigation of identified safety risks to a point that is as low as reasonably practicable. By identifying specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timebound (SMART) targets, Citrus Connection establishes processes for the regular evaluation of safety data collected across the agency.

The Citrus Connection safety & security committee sets safety performance targets based on the safety performance measures established in the National Safety Plan. Targets are established using a 3-year rolling average of data reported to NTD. The safety & security committee reviews and approves all performance targets for the calendar year.

Citrus Connection is a large Section 5307 that serves a large, urbanized area. Citrus connection is committed to improving safety by reducing the number and rates of accidents, injuries and assaults on transit workers. Many of these efforts are detailed in sections 3 and 4, including the establishment of a safety & security committee and safety data and performance monitoring.

Citrus Connection will continuously canvas and evaluate technologies regarding reducing visibility impairments for buses. New technological advances that have proven to be effective will be evaluated in future procurements for the bus fleet. To address visibility impairments on our current buses, Citrus Connection continue developing training and SOPs that address how best to avoid accidents, especially when making right and left-hand turns.

Citrus Connection has also incorporated de-escalation training as part of its efforts to mitigate transit worker assaults. Furthermore, Citrus Connection Safety Department, Operations Supervisors and TSO’s conduct routine patrols & inspections to deter transit worker assaults. Citrus Connection will also evaluate advancements in technology to address other system operational improvements and enhancements as they become available.

Citrus Connection is committed to supporting the wellness and alertness of all employees, particularly bus operators and safety-critical staff. Scheduling practices, rest periods, and wellness resources are monitored and maintained to reduce fatigue-related risks. Employees have access to counseling and post-incident support as needed to ensure safe and effective performance.

Citrus Connection convenes its safety & security committee by joint labor-management process. The tasks of the committee include identifying and recommending risk-based or strategies necessary to reduce the likelihood and severity of consequences identified through the agency’s safety risk assessment, identifying mitigations or strategies that may be ineffective, inappropriate, or were not implemented as intended, and identifying safety deficiencies for purposes of continuous improvement and risk reduction.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law directs that performance measures for a safety risk reduction program, required under 49 U.S.C. 5329(d)(4), be included in the National Safety Plan (49 U.S.C. 5329(b)(2)(A)). FTA identifies the below eight measures for the safety risk reduction program. The safety & security committee will use these measures to set targets for the safety risk reduction program, as required by 49 U.S.C. 5329(d) and 49 CFR § 673.19(d)(2). Under the new Bipartisan Infrastructure Law requirements, the safety & security committee must establish these targets using a 3-year rolling average of the data the agency submits to the NTD.

As part of the transit agency’s safety risk reduction program, the safety & security committee identifies and recommends under § 673.19(c)(6) safety risk mitigations, including mitigations relating to vehicular and pedestrian safety events involving transit vehicles or assaults on transit workers, based on a safety risk assessment conducted under § 673.25(c), Citrus Connection will include or incorporate by reference these safety risk mitigations in the PTASP pursuant to § 673.11(a)(7)(iv).

When the safety & security committee recommends safety risk mitigation unrelated to the safety risk reduction program, and the Accountable Executive decides not to implement the safety risk mitigation, the Accountable Executive must prepare a written statement explaining their decision, pursuant to recordkeeping requirements at § 673.31. The Accountable Executive must submit and present this explanation to the Citrus Connection’s Safety & Security Committee and Board of Directors.

Safety & Security Contact

Contact Us

For questions or to report safety issues, contact our Safety & Security team:

• Phone: (863) 688-7223
• Email: sst@ridecitrus.com
• Online Form: Contact Citrus Connection