The U.S. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced a final rule that significantly strengthens state safety oversight and enforcement authority to prevent and mitigate accidents and incidents on rail transit systems. The final rule will officially be published in the Federal Register on March 16, 2016, and will take effect 30 days after publication. In addition, the final rule requires that a State must ensure that the State Safety Oversight Agency adopts and enforces relevant Federal and state safety laws, has investigatory authority, and has appropriate financial and human resources for the number, size and complexity of the rail transit systems within its jurisdiction.
To assist in this effort, Congress has authorized a stable source of funds to the States for their use in meeting these new safety oversight obligations.
“With the more rigorous and effective state safety oversight required by this final rule and federal law, transit systems across the nation will receive greater safety oversight with the aim of improving safety for passengers and transit system employees. Greater investigatory and enforcement power combined with better training will give state safety oversight watchdogs sharper teeth to help rail transit agencies keep their systems seif,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said.
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