FTA certifies California, Oklahoma transit-rail safety programs

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced this week that California and Oklahoma have obtained federal certification of their transit-rail State Safety Oversight (SSO) programs.

Federal law requires states with transit-rail systems to obtain FTA certification of their SSO programs by April 15, 2019.

Under California's SSO program, the California Public Utilities Commission will be responsible for providing safety oversight of transit-rail services at the following agencies: Bay Area Rapid Transit; San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency; Sacramento Regional Transit District; Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority; San Diego Metropolitan Transportation System; Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority; and North County Transit District.

Under Oklahoma's SSO program, the state's Department of Transportation will be responsible for safety oversight of the Oklahoma City Streetcar system.

By April 15, 2019, 30 states must obtain certification of 31 SSO programs. With this week's announcement, 27 states so far have achieved SSO program certification.

The FTA cannot extend the certification deadline. States that miss it will lose new federal transit funds until until certification is achieved, FTA officials said in a press release.