1. A. The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA), signed on December 18, 1991, required the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to create a first-ever State-managed safety and security oversight program for rail fixed guideway public transportation systems (RFGPTS) not regulated by the Federal Railroad Administration. In each successive Act following ISTEA, including the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), signed on June 9, 1998, and the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), signed on August 10, 2005, the state safety oversight (SSO) program was continued, setting the stage for the safety and programmatic advances required under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP–21) signed July 6, 2012 and continued under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), signed on December 4, 2015.
2. B. On March 16, 2016, FTA issued the 49 CFR Part 674 final Rule. This Rule reflects the requirements of 49 U.S.C. section 5329 and directs states to strengthen their authorities to oversee and enforce safety requirements and to prevent and mitigate accidents, or safety events as defined below, on the RFGPTS in their jurisdictions.

3. C. Definitions

   1. Designated Personnel—employees and contractors identified by a recipient whose job functions are directly responsible for safety oversight of the public transportation system of the public transportation agency; or employees and contractors of a State Safety Oversight Agency whose job functions require them to conduct reviews, inspections, examinations, and other safety oversight activities of the rail fixed guideway public transportation systems subject to the jurisdiction of the agency.

   2. Safety Event—an event that involves any of the following:

      1. a. a loss of life;
      2. b. a report of serious injury to a person;
      3. c. a collision involving a rail transit vehicle;
      4. d. a runaway train;
      5. e. an evacuation for life safety reasons; or
      6. f. any derailment of a rail transit vehicle, at any location, at any time, whatever the cause.

Authority Note

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 48:214; 49 C.F.R Part 674; 49 U.S.C. § 5329.

Historical Note

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Transportation and Development, Office of Multimodal Commerce, LR 44:922 (May 2018), LR 52:360 (March 2026).