The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) final rule took effect in April 2016, and is designed to help State Safety Oversight Agencies (SSOA) prevent and mitigate accidents and incidents on rail transit systems. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx recently sent letters to governors in affected states encouraging swift action to come into compliance and provide the necessary state resources to deliver a higher level of safety for rail transit system riders and workers.
The final rule requires that a state must ensure that the SSOA 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. Furthermore, SSO Agency personnel responsible for performing safety oversight activities must have proper training and certification. And, the SSOA must be legally and financially independent of the transit systems it oversees.
If a state is non-compliant after the three-year period, FTA may withhold Federal funds until its SSO program is certified. If a state fails to establish an SSO program, FTA is prohibited by law from obligating any Federal financial assistance to any entity in that state otherwise eligible to receive FTA program funding.
Click here to learn more about the State Safety Oversight Program.
Click here for a list SSOAs by state, including contact information.
