WASHINGTON — The Federal Transit Administration has finalized regulations giving state agencies overseeing rail transit more authority to conduct inspections and clarifying existing rules.
An updated final rule regarding State Safety Oversight Agencies published on Friday, Oct. 18, allows those oversight agencies to conduct inspections of rail transit operations without advance notice, and requires them to identify and evaluate safety risks and develop a risk-based inspection programs for the transit agencies they oversee.
It also simplifies requirements regarding the type of incidents that rail transit agencies must report to the safety oversight agencies; clarifies that the oversight agencies’ authority extends to projects in the engineering and construction phases, not just those in operation; and reinforces the oversight agencies’ authority to ensure compliance with required safety training, among other changes.
“Today, we are making rail transit even safer for both transit workers and riders,” FTA Deputy Administrator Veronica Vanterpool said in a press release. “Providing oversight agencies with the necessary tools to do their jobs effectively is crucial. This rule reinforces FTA’s ongoing comprehensive efforts to improve transit safety.”
