FRA issues new rail safety rules
Emergency communication, evacuation features to be enhanced.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced a new rule that intends to ensure rail passenger safety through improved emergency window exit availability, additional emergency rescue features and required two-way communication systems.
New regulations issued by the FRA mandate that passenger railcars be equipped with two-way communication systems that better help train crews inform and instruct passengers during emergency situations, and to allow passengers to report potential safety or security problems to them.
Emergency rescue and evacuation and rescue access windows are required at all levels with passenger seating, and all new passenger railcars must be equipped with emergency roof access locations. The rule also includes minimum requirements for the inspection, testing, maintenance and repair of these safety systems.
The new rule addresses a safety recommendation made and other concerns raised by the National Transportation Safety Board following passenger train accidents in 1996 and 2002. A related FRA rulemaking proposing to enhance passenger railcar emergency lighting systems, exit path markings and emergency signage is expected to be completed later this year.
The final rule will be posted on FRA's Website on February 1.
More Management
WMATA Debuts 'Fares Pay for Service' Awareness Campaign
The campaign was highlighted during a media event at the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center in Silver Spring, where WMATA’s GM/CEO Randy Clarke joined Metro Transit Police officers, WMATA management team, board members, and staff to expand fare enforcement and customer education efforts on Metro Bus routes throughout the region.
Read More →
Managing Complexity: HDR’s Brian Buchanan on Delivering Major Transit Programs
HDR’s transit program management lead discusses the challenges of overseeing large capital projects, adapting to cost and supply chain pressures, and the capabilities agencies need to build for the future.
Read More →
Seattle’s Sound Transit Adopts Updated ST3 System Plan
The updated system plan incorporates cost savings across the agency, including new revenue sources and financial policies, to set the agency on a sustainable path for the future.
Read More →
Audit Finds Regional Coordination Across California's East Bay Transit Agencies
The State Auditor further concluded that while collaboration among transit agencies is functioning, the Bay Area’s public transportation systems face mounting structural fiscal pressures that threaten future service levels if sustainable funding solutions are not secured.
Read More →
Biz Briefs: Foothill Gold Line Award, Matawan Contract, and More
From strategic partnerships to acquisitions and service expansions, the industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Find out all the latest here.
Read More →
Inside Look: EMBARK Expands Fare-Free Transit Program Through New Public-Private Partnership
The OKC transit agency says sponsorship helps subsidize the Third Friday Free initiative while reducing barriers for first-time riders and boosting ridership across buses, streetcars, and river cruises.
Read More →
Oregon's TriMet Adopts Major Budget Cuts to Address Financial Shortfall
The board adopted the agency’s fiscal year 2027 budget, approving approximately $64.5 million in spending reductions, including about $53 million in administrative cuts and roughly $11 million in service reductions.
Read More →
OCTA Sees Growing Adoption of Wave Fare Payment System
Since launching in October 2025, the Wave system has steadily replaced previous fare media with faster, more flexible payment options designed to streamline boarding, improve reliability, and help riders more easily access fare discounts and cost-saving benefits, said OCTA
Read More →
North Carolina's Metropolitan Transit Commission Concludes Decades of Leadership
To commemorate the occasion, current members of the MTC were presented with a custom painting of the Charlotte Transportation Center in Uptown.
Read More →
Montana's Mountain Line Named Nation’s Best Transit System by CTAA
The award was presented to Mountain Line representatives at the CTAA Expo in mid-May, with bus operator Bryan Ursery, who has worked at Mountain Line for more than two decades, accepting the award on the agency's behalf.
Read More →