Today, FTA is issuing for public comment a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) with proposed minimum safety standards for Rail Transit Roadway Worker Protection (RWP) in the Federal Register.

The safety of our transit workers is of paramount importance, and unsafe practices and conditions place rail transit workers at risk of being killed or seriously injured while performing work. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and FTA’s Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS) both have recommended regulatory action to address rail transit roadway worker safety. 

With this NPRM, FTA proposes to establish minimum safety standards to prevent safety events for transit workers who work on or around the tracks. The proposed rule would apply to Rail Transit Agencies (RTA) in the State Safety Oversight (SSO) program, SSO agencies (SSOAs) and workers who access the rail transit roadway. 

The proposed rule would: 

• Require each RTA to adopt and implement an RWP program to improve transit worker safety that is consistent with Federal and state safety requirements and approved by their SSOA. 
• Establish minimum RWP program elements, including job safety briefings, redundant protections, lone worker protections, and good faith safety challenges. 
• Require each RTA to document its RWP program in a manual that includes a track access guide. 
• Implement an RWP training program that addresses all transit workers responsible for on-track safety. 

Submit your comments on the NPRM here by May 24, 2024.