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Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) kicked off the first meeting of the Transit Rail Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS) since the new two-year surface transportation bill known as MAP-21 was enacted in July. MAP-21 grants the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) the authority to implement and enforce transit safety standards for heavy and light-rail trains, buses, ferries and streetcars.

"Under MAP-21, we’re ushering in a new era for transit safety," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in a prepared statement. "Working with the committee advisers and state leaders, we’ll help strengthen state safety oversight agencies to carry out this vitally important mission."

FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff led the two-day meeting, which was attended by transit industry officials, transportation safety experts, transportation labor groups and academics to provide advice and recommendations on how to implement the new law, USDOT officials said.

The session was designed to give FTA officials information on best practices from participants as the administration begins the process of establishing a new framework for overseeing U.S. public transportation.

"We anticipate that the TRACS advisory committee will offer valuable guidance and insight to help us establish workable, enforceable transit safety oversight," said Rogoff.