The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) recently obtained certification from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for its rail transit State Safety Oversight (SSO) program.
An SSO program provides independent safety oversight of rail transit, including subway/surface trolleys, subway transit systems, and all stations and maintenance facilities related to these operations. The FTA must certify that the programs comply with federal requirements.
The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century law replaces existing regulations for safety oversight agencies and strengthens states’ abilities to investigate accidents and oversee a rail transit agency’s safety plan implementation process.
“PennDOT is committed to safety across all the transportation modes under its jurisdiction and this certification was critical to maintaining federal support and ensuring the continued safe operation of rail transit,” PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards said. “I applaud our State Safety Oversight Office for working diligently to meet this requirement.”
PennDOT overseas the Cambria County Transit Authority in Johnstown, the Port Authority of Allegheny County and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority.
The deadline for certification is April 2019. Rail transit systems under law must be certified by the deadline to qualify for federal transit grants.
Pennsylvania receives more than $438 million in federal funding for public transportation.