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The authority of FRA, as a delegate of the Secretary of Transportation, to regulate railroads arises from title 49 of the United States Code, section 20103, which gives the agency plenary authority over “every area of railroad safety.” 49 U.S.C. § 20103; 49 C.F.R. § 1.49. The term “railroad” is...
Rulemaking is a process for developing and issuing rules (rules are also referred to as “regulations”). The process can lead to the issuance of a new rule, an amendment to an existing rule, or the repeal of an existing rule. Detailed information on the Rulemaking Process, including...
FRA has developed model legislation, made available to States, to address certain railroad safety issues.
Sight Distance at Passive Highway-Rail Grade Crossings Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Violations by Motorists Railroad Trespass Prevention Railroad Vandalism PreventionThe FAST Act Section 11307 charged DOT to establish a Competitive Passenger Rail Service Pilot Program for the competitive selection of eligible petitioners in lieu of Amtrak to operate not more than three long‑distance routes for a period of four years (DOT may renew the operation for an...
The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, or FAST Act (P.L. 114-94), was the first long-term Federal transportation bill in more than 10 years.
In response to several fatal rail accidents between 2002 and 2008, Congress passed the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, the first authorization of FRA’s safety programs since 1994. RSIA directs FRA to, among other things, promulgate new safety regulations. These new...
FRA exercises its responsibilities for regulating the safety of the nation's railroad system and development of intercity passenger rail through several means, including:
Legislative Rules, Non-legislative Rules (Interpretive Rules and Policy Statements), and Management and...
The Fatality Analysis of Maintenance-of-way Employees and Signalmen (FAMES) Committee was formed by FRA in collaboration with railroad labor and management representatives as an ad-hoc, voluntary, consensus-based committee.
In March 1996, FRA established the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC), pursuant to Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463) to provide advice and recommendations to FRA on railroad safety matters. RSAC is a formally chartered and structured Federal Advisory...
FRA manages a portfolio of railroad safety partnership programs designed to foster a safe railroad operating environment nationwide. FRA sponsors, manages, and coordinates several nationwide voluntary programs, and FRA is represented on boards, committees, working groups, and task...