GAO report: Congress should allow FRA to extend the PTC deadline on a case-by-case basis

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) on Monday made public a report on positive train control (PTC) implementation that it sent to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation last month.

Most railroads won't complete PTC installation by the federally mandated end-of-2015 deadline because of complex and interrelated challenges associated with implementation, such as the stages of component development and multiple phases of testing still to be completed. As a result, Congress should consider amending the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA) to grant the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) the authority to extend the deadline for certain rail lines on a case-by-case basis, GAO officials recommend in the report.

In addition, they recommend the FRA be given the authority to grant provisional certification of PTC systems and, in certain cases, approve the use of alternative safety technologies that would accomplish many of the same functions as PTC.

"By attempting to implement PTC by the 2015 deadline while key components are still in development, railroads could be introducing financial and operational risks. For example, officials from railroads and the FRA said that without adequate testing, PTC systems might be more prone to reliability issues," GAO officials said in the report.

To mitigate risks, provide flexibility in meeting the deadline and better manage limited resources, the FRA has requested that Congress amend the RSIA to provide additional authorities in implementing PTC, they said.

"Flexibility in extending the deadline for certain railroads acknowledges differences in railroads' implementation schedules and may also help the FRA better manage its limited resources by, for example, preventing a potential review backlog resulting from most of the railroads' submitting final safety plans at the same time — a concern raised by both freight railroads and the FRA," GAO officials said.

The report affirms the FRA's assessment of challenges faced by the rail industry in implementing PTC, said an FRA spokesman — who declined to be identified — via email. The federal agency is committed to fully implementing PTC and keeping the nation's railroads safe, he added.

"Their findings are consistent with our August 2012 report to Congress when we recommended that we be allowed to: implement PTC on a case-by-case basis where necessary; grant provisional certification of PTC systems; and authorize the use of alternative safety technologies in lieu of PTC," the spokesman said. "We look forward to working with Congress to safely, reliably and efficiently implement PTC.”  

However, Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) officials oppose any efforts to "weaken" the RSIA's PTC-related provisions. The agency's board has taken a leadership role in supporting the implementation of PTC systems by 2015 to ensure the safety of Metrolink riders and commuter-rail riders nationwide, said LACMTA Chief Executive Officer Art Leahy in an item posted on the agency's website.

"A concerted effort has been made by some in the railroad and transportation industry to lobby Congress and the Obama administration for an extension of the 2015 PTC deadline. We have opposed any effort to extend the PTC deadline, whether at APTA meetings or by opposing congressional amendments that sought to water down the PTC provisions embedded in the RSIA," he said.

LACMTA's leaders plan to continue registering their opposition with the U.S. Department of Transportation and FRA.

"We will also continue to advocate among transportation stakeholders, members of Congress and the Obama administration that early implementation of PTC is consistent with our agency's emphasis on safety," said Leahy. "Further, we will also continue to advance the position that any alternative-PTC technology must offer the same, or greater, safety benefits as PTC and be interoperable with PTC systems."