Ronald Nickle joins MATA as chief safety and security officer

The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) has named Ronald Nickle as the chief safety and security officer.

Nickle, who will be responsible for the overall management of safety and security activities, has nearly 40 years of safety experience, including providing 15 years of safety oversight for public transportation organizations.

Nickle recently served in a consultant role as senior safety and security director for Transit Safety and Security Solutions, Inc., a comprehensive consulting firm specializing in strategic support for the public transportation, general industry and construction sectors. In this role, Nickle managed and consulted on public transportation projects for Chicago Transit Authority and King County Metro in Seattle, Wash.

He joins MATA shortly after the organization submitted its Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) which is required by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for all public transportation systems that receive federal funds under the FTA Urbanized Area Formula Grants program. The PTASP will help drive the implementation of Safety Management Systems (SMS).

“As public transportation providers continue to improve systems of how safety is managed, Ronald is joining the organization at an important time,” said MATA CEO Gary Rosenfeld. “We are embarking on a new top-down, data-driven management system that will drive us to continuously analyze how we proactively address safety risks which will further reiterate our focus on safety as a top priority. He has experience leading the development of safety standards which is a huge asset for MATA.”

Prior to serving as a public transportation safety and security consultant, Nickle served as chief safety officer for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, managing numerous safety and certification projects. He also managed and administered multimillion-dollar operating and capital budgets including a $40-million capital safety infrastructure improvement initiative. Nickle also served as rail safety administrator for Utah Transit Authority in Salt Lake City where he developed safety measures for the agency’s initiative to build 70 miles of rail in seven years.

Nickle is a current member of the FTA Safety and Standards Working Group that develops recommendations for FTA that is related to regulations, safety standards, research and federal guidance towards SMS and the FTA/State Safety Oversight Program, which oversees safety at rail transit systems. He is also a current member on FTA’s Transit Advisory Committee for Safety and was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation for that role as a safety advisor.

“With my experiences and current work as a federal public transportation safety advisor, I am looking forward to examining safety and security measures at MATA from a holistic approach ensuring that we are developing and following safety and security standards and practices that help the organization maintain its focus on safety as a top priority.”

Nickle earned his associate of science degree from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and holds numerous transportation security certifications for bus and rail, including as a chartered insurance professional from the Insurance Institute of Canada and as a professionally accredited Certified Safety Executive from the World Safety Organization.