United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2006-07-19 monographic deposited born digital 34 p. GA 1.13:GAO-06-997T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-997T P0b002ee1803794e8 f:d06997t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-997T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-997T GAO-06-997T Critical infrastructure Critical infrastructure protection Federal/state relations Mass transit Performance measures Program evaluation Rail security Railroad safety Safety regulation Transportation safety Government agency oversight FTA State Safety Oversight Program Testimony A57121

The U.S. rail transit system is a vital component of the nation's transportation infrastructure, carrying millions of people daily. Unlike most transportation modes, safety and security oversight of rail transit is the responsibility of state-designated oversight agencies following Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requirements. In addition, in 2001, Congress passed the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, giving the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) authority for security over all transportation modes, including rail transit. This testimony is based on ongoing work for this subcommittee's committee--the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. I describe (1) how the State Safety Oversight program is designed; (2) what is known about the impact of the program on rail safety and security; and (3) challenges facing the program. I also provide information about oversight of transit systems that cross state boundaries. To address these issues, we reviewed program documents and interviewed stakeholders including officials from FTA, TSA, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the American Public Transportation Association. We also surveyed state oversight and transit agencies covered by FTA's program, interviewing 24 of the 25 oversight agencies and 37 of 42 transit agencies across the country. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-997T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-997T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-997T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-997T.pdf GAO-06-997T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-997T Testimony GAO-06-997T; Rail Transit: Observations on FTA's State Safety Oversight Program; Critical infrastructure Critical infrastructure protection Federal/state relations Mass transit Performance measures Program evaluation Rail security Railroad safety Safety regulation Transportation safety Government agency oversight FTA State Safety Oversight Program Title 49 Section 5330 Title 49 Section 5336 49 U.S.C. 5330 49 U.S.C. 5336 Volume 115 Page 597 115 Stat. 597 Volume 116 Page 2135 116 Stat. 2135 Public Law 107-296 Title 49 Part 659 49 CFR Part 659 Title 49 Part 659 49 CFR Part 659 Title 49 Part 659 49 CFR Part 659