FTA reminds states funding at risk if State Safety Oversight mandate not met
FTA is prohibited by law from awarding new federal transit funds to any transit provider in a state that fails to meet the deadline, until certification is achieved.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is reminding states that only one year remains until the April 15, 2019, deadline to obtain FTA certification of their State Safety Oversight (SSO) Programs to provide more effective oversight of rail transit systems in their jurisdictions.
“Safety is our top priority, and FTA is committed to working with states to help them fulfill their safety responsibilities,” said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams. “These Safety Oversight Programs will make our rail transit systems safer for the millions of Americans relying on them each day.”
FTA is prohibited by law from awarding new federal transit funds to any transit provider in a state that fails to meet the deadline, until certification is achieved. This includes all FTA formula and competitive grant programs, such as the Capital Investment Grant program. By law, the deadline cannot be waived or extended.
There are 30 states with rail transit systems that need FTA certification by the April 15, 2019, deadline. An online certification status table shows that, to date, eight states have received certification with the remainder at various stages of the process.
FTA strongly recommends that states submit their certification applications as soon as possible. States should not assume that applications submitted after Sept. 30, 2018, will be certified by the deadline.
Since 2013, FTA has provided approximately $112.4 million in grant funds to eligible states to develop and implement a SSO Program that is compliant with federal requirements.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
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The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
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