The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) launched a more user-friendly safety data website.
Section 22405 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 required the website.
“Our new public FRA Safety Data website increases transparency which is a Trump Administration priority,” FRA Acting Administrator Drew Feeley said. “The new capabilities being introduced will afford users significantly more flexibility when querying our railroad safety data.”
The updated site includes 30 reports and uses a combination of data tables, visuals, and narrative components. Dropdown filters and other filters allow users to select the exact data they need and adjust how the reports display results.
Site navigation also was improved, allowing users to more easily find information, and resource links are provided to give users a greater explanation of data queries.
The FRA site redesign group included stakeholders from the FRA, industry associations, railroads, and state departments of transportation. Researchers gathered user requirements and tested functionality and suitability. The agency will continue to update the site, incorporating stakeholders’ feedback.
The site replaces two older websites including one that was developed in the 1990s. The previous Office of Safety Analysis website contained approximately 30 pre-made reports with limited ability to customize queries and displayed results in static tables.