Washington, D.C.—Yesterday, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Dina Titus (D-NV) wrote to Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Administrator David Fink to express concern about Class I railroads’ lack of transparency in following the FRA’s reporting requirements that were implemented as a condition of the agency waiving visual track inspection safety requirements for automated track inspections.
“We are concerned that the FRA is not consistently applying its own safety waiver conditions,” the Ranking Members wrote. “This lack of transparency makes it impossible for Members of Congress, local governments, the public, and other interested stakeholders to independently validate the data the railroads are submitting.”
“Class I railroads have a track record of wanting to control rail safety requirements on their own terms. It is the job of the FRA to ensure railroads meet the standards for rail safety required under regulation and supported by Congress,” the members continued.
“We urge you to require the transparency you set forth in the track inspection waiver conditions to allow for a full assessment of the impacts of waiving safety requirements,” the members concluded.
To read the full letter, click here.
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