In 2012, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, or MAP-21, included new Transit Asset Management (TAM) provisions which were intended to improve the safety of the nation’s public transportation systems, ensure that those systems are in a state of good repair, and provide increased transparency into agencies’ budgetary decision-making process. The TAM Final Rule 49 USC 5326 became effective October 1, 2016, and required transit agencies that receive federal funds to develop Transit Asset Management Plans by October 2018. The TAM Plan has nine prescribed sections which include an asset inventory, condition of assets, decision support tools, investment prioritization, asset management policy, improvement program, resources needed to implement, outline of annual activities, and continuous improvement. TAM Plans cover a four-year horizon period.
