The District of Columbia recently received federal certification for its rail transit State Safety Oversight (SSO) Program from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
Under the program, D.C. Fire and Emergency Management Services must provide safety oversight for the D.C. Streetcar system.
“The District of Columbia is among the first in the nation to achieve SSO Program certification to strengthen rail transit passenger and worker safety,” FTA Deputy Administrator K. Jane Williams said. “FTA is doing all we can to help states certify their safety oversight programs so transit agencies can continue to receive federal funding for the safe movement of millions of people every day.”
Washington also will submit an SSO Program certification application jointly with Maryland and Virginia for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Metrorail system. The system is overseen by the Metrorail Safety Commission.
The deadline for obtaining certification is April 15. Thirty states must obtain certification by the deadline because it cannot be waived or extended.
If the deadline is missed, the FTA cannot by law award a state new federal transit funds.
Illinois, Michigan, New York, Oklahoma, and Tennessee also must receive executive action or state legislative approval prior to FTA certification.
Certain federal statutory requirements must be met for certification.