Rail Fixed Guideway Public Transportation System State Safety Oversight Formula Grant Program

 

To improve public transportation safety by assisting States with the financing of safety oversight of rail fixed guideway public transportation systems in the jurisdiction of the state not regulated by the Federal Railroad Administration.

Active 20.528 Federal Transit Administration, Department of Transportation A - Formula Grants Fiscal Year 2016 On March 16, 2016 FTA published a Final Rule for the SSO program that significantly strengthens state safety oversight and enforcement authority to prevent and mitigate accidents and incidents on rail transit systems. It applies to States where a rail transit system operates, and carries out several explicit Federal statutory requirements, including that a State must submit its State Safety Oversight (SSO) program to FTA for certification and that the designated SSO Agency must have financial and legal independence from the rail transit agencies it oversees. In addition, the final rule requires that a State must ensure that the SSO Agency adopts and enforces relevant Federal and state safety laws, has investigatory authority, and has appropriate financial and human resources for the number, size and complexity of the rail transit systems within its jurisdiction. Furthermore, SSO Agency personnel responsible for performing safety oversight activities must have proper training and certification. Within three years of the effective date of this final rule, States with an operating rail transit system must have a SSO program certified by FTA. FTA has already certified two of the affected 30 States as being compliant: California and Massachusetts. Most of the remaining 28 States have also already taken some actions toward compliance with these critical safety requirements. On March 16, 2016 FTA published a Final Rule for the SSO program that significantly strengthens state safety oversight and enforcement authority to prevent and mitigate accidents and incidents on rail transit systems. It applies to States where a rail transit system operates, and carries out several explicit Federal statutory requirements, including that a State must submit its State Safety Oversight (SSO) program to FTA for certification and that the designated SSO Agency must have financial and legal independence from the rail transit agencies it oversees. In addition, the final rule requires that a State must ensure that the SSO Agency adopts and enforces relevant Federal and state safety laws, has investigatory authority, and has appropriate financial and human resources for the number, size and complexity of the rail transit systems within its jurisdiction. Furthermore, SSO Agency personnel responsible for performing safety oversight activities must have proper training and certification. Within three years of the effective date of this final rule, States with an operating rail transit system must have an SSO program certified by FTA.
Fiscal Year 2017 Funding for this program will continue. The SSO final rule was published March 16, 2016 and the States have three years to comply with 49 CFR 674. The State Safety Oversight (SSO) Program is not a typical federal assistance project, but a program that requires routine monitoring of 30 States by the FTA to review, approve, and certify programmatic aspects, as well as provide technical assistance, as needed.
Fiscal Year 2020 By 2020 all States certified and met the April 15, 2019 deadline regarding changes in Federal public transportation law requiring states to strengthen the oversight of rail transit systems. It applied to all federally funded rail fixed guideway public transportation systems such as heavy rail, light rail, monorail, and streetcar systems. To achieve FTA certification, a SSO Program had to meet several federal statutory requirements, including establishing a SSO agency that is financially and legally independent from the rail transit agencies it oversees. In addition, a state had to ensure that its SSO agency adopts and enforces relevant federal and state safety laws, has investigatory authority, and has appropriate financial and human resources for the number, size and complexity of the rail transit systems within the state’s jurisdiction. Furthermore, SSO agency personnel responsible for performing safety oversight activities had to be appropriately trained. If a state had failed to meet the deadline, FTA would have been prohibited by law from awarding any new federal transit funds to transit agencies within the state until certification was achieved. If a state had failed to meet the deadline, FTA would have been prohibited by law from awarding any new federal transit funds to transit agencies within the state until certification was achieved.
Fiscal Year 2022 The State Safety Oversight Program significantly strengthens an SSO Agency’s (SSOA) authority to investigate accidents and oversee a rail transit agency’s (RTA). FTA has the authority to review and approve each State’s SSO program and take enforcement actions against those States with non-existent or non-compliant safety oversight programs. As a result, the Nation's Rail Transit Agencies are safer than in previous years.
Fiscal Year 2023 FTA issued special directives to all State Safety Oversight Agencies (SSOA), the agencies that oversee safety at rail transit systems, to develop and implement a risk-based inspection program in accordance with changes to FTA’s Public Transportation Safety Program as required by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. A risk-based inspection program uses qualitative and quantitative data analysis to inform inspection activities and is designed to prioritize safety concerns and hazards associated with the highest levels of risk. Learn more about risk-based inspection programs. A risk-based inspection program uses qualitative and quantitative data analysis to identify safety concerns and hazards associated with the highest levels of risk. Inspectors can then use data to inform their inspection practices, with the goal improving safety by prioritizing and addressing hazards. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law identified actions that FTA, SSOAs, and rail transit agencies (RTAs) must take to implement effective risk-based inspection programs. Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21). Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act in 2015., 49 U.S.C. 5330
Public Law Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-49 U.S.C. § 5329 / IIJA § 30012 Eligible States are those with a rail fixed guideway public transportation system within the jurisdiction of the State that is not subject to regulation by the Federal Railroad Administration; or a rail fixed guideway public transportation system in the engineering or construction phase of development within the jurisdiction of the State that will not be subject to regulation by the Federal Railroad Administration. Subrecipients must be public agencies that are eligible to become Federal Transit Administration recipients. Eligible States are those with a rail fixed guideway public transportation system within the jurisdiction of the State that is not subject to regulation by the Federal Railroad Administration; or a rail fixed guideway public transportation system in the engineering or construction phase of development within the jurisdiction of the State that will not be subject to regulation by the Federal Railroad Administration. Subrecipients must be public agencies that are eligible to become Federal Transit Administration recipients. Recipients must complete certifications and assurances as compiled in FTA's Annual List of Certifications and Assurances. Eligible costs will be in accordance with OMB cost principles for State and local governments in part 225 of Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Federal Register Notice FTA Fiscal Year Apportionments, Allocations, and Program Information, published annually, contain the capital investment apportionments. . Grant requirements will also be published in the Federal Register along with the program's Fiscal Year apportionment. Apportionment notices and other grant information is available on the FTA website: www.fta.dot.gov/. Subrecipients State Safety Oversight Agencies must be included in the State Safety Oversight Program submission. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Given the applicant and beneficiary eligibility, This program is subject to the provisions of 2 CFR part 1201, incorporating by reference 2 CFR 200,and FTA Circulars 4220 and 5010. An FTA grant award obligating Federal funds is reflected in a grant agreement. Grants are awarded electronically using FTA's Transit Asset Management System (TrAMS) https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grantee-resources/teamtrams/transit-award-management-system-trams . Once the funds are reserved in TrAMS and the project information has been reviewed and approved by Headquarters, the recipient must execute the grant agreement to access the funds. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Not applicable. Not applicable. Funding is made available annually through the appropriation process. A separate grant application is executed for each fiscal year as funds are appropriated by Congress. Proposed grant activities must be used to develop or carry out State Safety Oversight programs that comply with the statutory requirements and advance a Safety Management Systems approach. The funds may only be used to provide grants to States for State safety oversight program expenses that will bring the State Safety Oversight Agency into compliance with the MAP-21 requirements codified at 49 USC 5329 (e) 9). The Federal grants shall cover up to 80 percent of the allowable costs to develop or carry out such a program, and the local matching share may include in-kind contributions by an eligible State. The non-Federal share may not be met by any Federal funds, any funds received from a public transportation agency or any revenues earned by a public transportation agency. The use of the funds shall be subject to uniform administrative requirements for grants and cooperative agreements to State and local governments under part 1201 of title2, Code of Federal Regulations, as well as other requirements for funds provided under Chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, except to the extent that the Secretary of Transportation determines that the requirements are inconsistent with the purpose of the grants. Performance Reports: FTA staff must review and sign off on all quarterly FFRs. FTA is require to publish an Annual Report to Congress. Not applicable. The grantee must record and maintain all financial transactions for a period of 3 years after the close of a grant. The grantee must maintain an asset inventory for the useful life of capital acquisitions. Statutory Formula: Title USC 49 Part 5329(e)(6) Subpart 5330 USC 49

Matching is voluntary. 20%. 80% Federal / 20% State. Matching fund shall include in-kind contributions by an eligible State. The non-Federal share may not be met by any Federal funds, any funds received from a public transportation agency or any revenues earned by a public transportation agency.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Funding apportionment is available to their SSOA the year of apportionment plus two additional years. The funding is can be provided in a lump sum to the States and can be drawn down through FTA's financial management system. Applicant is required to submit grant applications in FTA’s grant management system, Transit Award Management System (TrAMS). Awards are made within the grant management system and released through a separate financial management system. You may contact FTA's Regional Offices at the link below https://www.transit.dot.gov/about/regional-offices/regional-offices Maria Wright
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590 US
maria1.wright@dot.gov
Phone: (202) 366-5922 https://www.transit.dot.gov/ 69-8350-0-7-401 (Formula Grants (Apportionments)) FY 22$25,335,000.00; FY 23 est $26,316,000.00; FY 24 est $28,562,000.00; FY 21$30,983,000.00; FY 20$21,416,212.00; FY 19$26,714,149.00; FY 18$14,459,903.00; FY 17$28,273,294.00; FY 16$1,000,000.00; - Formula funding is provided to the State Safety Oversight Agencies. They are prohibited from provided the funding directly to the rail transit agencies. The funding can be used for administrative expenses such as training, travel, and equipment. The range varies depending on the size of the State. If you have questions, you can contact FTA's Regional Office at the link below https://www.transit.dot.gov/about/regional-offices/regional-offices FTA Circular 5010.1D for Grants Management FTA Circular 4220.1F for Third-Party Procurements Fiscal Year 2016 The funding provided for the State Safety Oversight Program (SSO) is not for actual projects. The federal funds provided through the SSO Formula Grant Program allows for eligible states to develop or carry out their SSO programs. Examples of the various activities will continue from those provided in 2015. The funding provided for the State Safety Oversight Program (SSO) is not for actual projects. The federal funds provided through the SSO Formula Grant Program allows for eligible states to develop or carry out their SSO programs. The SSO attended the Annual SSO workshop and they conducted SSO triennial audits of their Rail Transit Agencies (RTA) they oversee. Some SSO’s conducted Safety and Security Readiness Reviews (SSRR) of new projects and extensions at their RTAs. Many completed TSI training and they continue to work towards Certification.
Fiscal Year 2023 The funding provided for the State Safety Oversight Program (SSO) is not for actual projects. The federal funds provided through the SSO Formula Grant Program allows for eligible states to develop or carry out their SSO programs. More than 700 transit agencies around the United States have certified that they now have safety plans to help keep riders and employees safe on their transit systems.