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GA 0114-22 1 <br />Agency Funding Agreement <br />For Sound Transit’s <br />Transit Operator Exposure to Illicit Drug Use and Communicating Best Practices for Operator <br />Well-Being <br /> <br />This Agreement is made and entered into by the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (“Sound <br />Transit”), and Snohomish County Public Transportation Benefit Authority (“Community Transit”), Tri-County <br />Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon, a transit district of the State of Oregon (“TriMet”), King <br />County, Everett Transit, a public transit authority of Everett Washington, singularly referred to as Agency, <br />collectively referred to as Agencies or jointly as Parties. This agreement will be effective upon the date of <br />the last signature to this Agreement. <br /> <br />OVERVIEW <br /> <br />Transit operators have observed increased illicit drug use on their vehicles, raising concerns about <br />secondhand exposure – both to themselves and passengers. Some operators have reported acute health <br />effects related to perceived secondhand exposure to illicit drug use. Transit operators often spend 8-12 <br />hours in the bus or train they operate and are responsible for passenger safety. As such, it is of priority for <br />both occupational and community health to (1) assess potential secondhand exposure to illicit drugs <br />(primarily opiates, methamphetamines, cocaine) on transit vehicles such as buses and trains and (2) <br />determine steps that can be taken by unions and transit agencies to reduce exposure to secondhand <br />drug use and increase overall safety, health, and security for transit operators. <br /> <br />Sound Transit has engaged the services of the University of Washington Department of Environmental <br />and Occupational Health Sciences to conduct a study of this issue and propose best practices to mitigate <br />the risk of exposure. The study will review the following areas; 1) Assess ventilation parameters of <br />prioritized models of buses and trains, across agencies under various operating conditions; 2) Determine <br />environmental air concentration of illicit drug related compounds resulting from illicit drug use that <br />generates aerosol and/or vapor throughout the vehicle; 3) Determine potential concentration and location <br />of surface deposition of illicit drug related compounds; 4) Determine whether illicit drug use that generates <br />aerosols and/or vapors results in an internal dose that could induce toxic outcomes in transit operators; 5) <br />Develop guidance documents and a final report of study findings for use to help mitigate the impact of this <br />issue. <br /> <br />The Agencies are interested in supporting this project and would like to participate by providing funding <br />and access to its transit services for this study, in return receiving certain data, information and reporting. <br /> <br />OBLIGATIONS OF AGENCIES <br /> <br />1. FUNDING: Agencies hereby commits the following in local funding, as a cost share for the initial <br />years of the program with the current funding, to Sound Transit. In exchange for the following items <br />listed below in “Obligations by Sound Transit”. <br />a. Community Transit will commit $10,000 <br />b. TriMet will commit $35,000 <br />c. King County will commit $35,000 <br />d. Everett Transit will commit $5,000 <br /> <br />2. ACCESS: <br />If the Sound Transit researchers (or sample collection team) determine it is necessary to access Agency <br />vehicle(s), Agency agrees to work with the researchers (or teams) to accommodate their needs, provided <br />that the researchers (or teams) will comply with all of Agencies reasonable requests regarding safety, <br />including the requirement of having an escort while on Agency property. <br /> <br />OBLIGATIONS OF SOUND TRANSIT <br /> <br />In consideration of Agencies funding commitment, and access as needed, Sound Transit will: <br />