[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 208 (Monday, November 1, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60331-60332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-23721]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Safety Advisory 21-1; Fleet-Wide Inspection of Wheel Gauging on 
Rail Rolling Stock

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of Safety Advisory.

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SUMMARY: As a result of the derailment of a Washington Metropolitan 
Area Transit Authority Metrorail train on October 12, 2021, FTA has 
issued Safety Advisory 21-1 to direct State Safety Oversight Agencies 
(SSOAs) to report information to FTA regarding out-of-tolerance wheel 
gauges on all rail transit rolling stock in revenue service. The Safety 
Advisory also advises SSOAs to require fleet-wide inspections of wheel 
gauges at rail fixed guideway public transportation systems (RTAs) in 
their jurisdiction. A copy of Safety Advisory 21-1 can be found on the 
FTA website at https://www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-and-guidance/safety/fta-safety-advisories.

DATES: FTA is requesting SSOA program managers to submit data on the 
rail transit fleets in revenue service at each RTA in its jurisdiction 
by December 1, 2021 and to report on the results of wheel gauge 
inspections conducted by each RTA in its jurisdiction by January 3, 
2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gail Lyssy, Acting Associate 
Administrator for Transit Safety and Oversight and Chief Safety 
Officer, FTA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, 
telephone (202) 366-1783 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On October 12, 2021, at about 4:50 p.m. local time, outbound 
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metrorail train 
407 derailed between the Rosslyn and Arlington Cemetery stations. The 
train was traveling southbound on track No. 2 of WMATA's Blue Line 
toward Franconia-Springfield with 187 passengers onboard. The National 
Transportation Safety Board is investigating this safety event, 
focusing on the pressed wheel/axle interface and widening wheel gauge 
on wheels and axles.
    In accordance with 49 CFR part 674, SSOAs are responsible for 
overseeing the safety of the rail fixed guideway public transportation 
systems (RTAs) within their State. Each SSOA has investigative and 
enforcement authority with respect to the safety of all RTAs within 
their State (Sec.  674.13(a)(5)).

Action Required

    Within 30 days of November 1, 2021, the SSOA must submit the 
following information to FTA, for the rail transit fleet in revenue 
service at each RTA in its jurisdiction:
     Total fleet size, by mode;
     Wheel gauge inspection protocols (specifically, the 
routine periodicity of inspections), by mode; and
     The number of vehicles that failed wheel gauge tolerance 
levels, based on the RTA's internal and approved procedures, from 
October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021, by mode.
    FTA seeks to collect this information as a periodic request for 
information under OMB control number 2132-0558. Equipment subject to 
Federal Railroad Administration safety oversight is excluded from this 
reporting requirement.

Recommended Action

    FTA advises the SSOA to direct each RTA in its jurisdiction to 
conduct a wheel gauge inspection of its rail transit fleet in revenue 
service, which may include inspections conducted on or after October 1, 
2021. Within 60 days of November 1, 2021, the SSOA should submit to 
FTA, for the rail transit fleet in revenue service at each RTA in its 
jurisdiction:
     The time frame during which these inspections were 
conducted (starting no earlier than October 1, 2021);
     The total number of revenue service vehicles inspected; 
and
     The total number of revenue service vehicles that failed 
wheel gauge

[[Page 60332]]

tolerance levels based on the RTA's internal and approved procedures, 
by mode.
    Equipment subject to Federal Railroad Administration safety 
oversight is excluded from this inspection advisory.

Nuria I. Fernandez,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2021-23721 Filed 10-29-21; 8:45 am]
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