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FTA Announcements:
REMINDER: FTA Seeks Public Comment on State Safety Oversight Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
On November 15, 2023, FTA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register proposing updates to State Safety Oversight (SSO) regulation requirements. The proposed changes included ensuring that State Safety Oversight Agencies (SSOAs) have the authority to enter rail transit facilities without prior notice to perform safety inspections; requiring SSOAs to collect safety data from the rail transit systems they oversee; and developing and implementing risk-based inspection programs.
In addition, the NPRM also proposes updates and clarifications to the current regulation including simplified requirements for the types of safety events that rail transit agencies must report to their SSOA and FTA within two hours of their occurrence.
The public comment period for the SSO NPRM has been extended until February 15, 2024.
FTA hosted a webinar on November 30, 2023, on the proposed changes to the SSO regulation requirements. The webinar recording and presentation are now available.
Webinar: Guidance on Real Property Disposition Option to Support TOD and Affordable Housing
FTA will be hosting two webinars regarding a provision in law permitting transit agencies to use their real property to support transit-oriented development (TOD) that includes affordable housing.
The 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) allows FTA to authorize the transfer of real property that is no longer needed for its original purpose to a local governmental authority, non-profit organization, or other third-party entity (i.e., private developers, companies, or organizations with a demonstrated satisfactory history of construction or operation of affordable housing development). The property must be a necessary component of a proposed TOD project and 40 percent of the project’s housing units must be affordable.
Transit agencies, state and local governments and authorities, housing nonprofits, and other interested parties may learn more about this guidance at two upcoming webinars:
For additional information, please see the Interim Asset Disposition Guidance.
USDOT Extends Comment Period for Public Input on Improving Accessibility of Transit Facilities for People with Disabilities
To continue to promote equity in public transportation, the U.S. Department of Transportation is seeking public input on ways to improve the accessibility of public transportation facilities for people with disabilities. The Department recently extended through February 20, 2024 the period for people to submit comments to its Request for Information (RFI).
The Department strives to provide equitable access so that people with disabilities are able to use and navigate public transit with the same ease, reliability, and independence as any other user. Input from transit riders, adaptive technology professionals, and the transit industry is critically important in informing USDOT as it contemplates potential enhancements to the ADA standards.
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