La. Admin. Code tit. 70 § IX-1503

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section IX-1503 - Program Management

A. Authority. The State of Louisiana re-designated the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) as the state safety oversight agency (SSOA) for Louisiana in 2014. This enabling authority is found at Louisiana Revised Statute 48:214. The SSOA authority applies to any Rail Transit Agency (RTA) operating a RFGPTS in Louisiana. References to the RTA or RFGPTS do not apply to one specific RTA, but to any RTA operating in Louisiana.

NOTE: The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority is the only RTA/RFGPTS currently subject to oversight in the State of Louisiana.

B. Policies That Govern SSOA Activities. The SSO program is administered by the state safety oversight program manager. The program manager is responsible for carrying out the policies enumerated in the state safety oversight program standard (SSOPS) and the specific activities and objectives provided in the procedures manual. The SSOA program is currently administered through the Office of Multimodal Commerce at the LADOTD and supported by the commissioner of multimodal commerce, the deputy commissioner of multimodal commerce, and the freight and passenger rail development statewide program manager. The SSOA program manager and any staff or contractors will meet the training requirements of the public transportation safety certification training program.

C. SSOA Reporting Requirements. On or before March 15th of each year, the SSOA will submit the following material to the Louisiana Governors Office, the RTA Board of Commissioners, and the FTA:

1. the SSOPS and the accompanying procedures manual, with an indication of any changes to those documents during the preceding 12 months;

2. evidence that each of its employees and contractors has completed the requirements of the public transportation safety certification training program, or, if in progress, the anticipated completion date of the training;

3. a publicly available report that summarizes its oversight activities for the preceding 12 months, describes the causal factors of accidents identified through investigation, and identifies the status of corrective actions, changes to the RTA safety plan, and the level of effort by the SSOA in carrying out its oversight activities;

4. a summary of the triennial audits completed during the preceding 12 months, and the RTAs progress in carrying out corrective action plans (CAP) arising from triennial audits (if conducted);

5. evidence that the SSOA has reviewed and approved any changes to the RTA safety plan during the preceding 12 months; and

6. a certification that the SSOA is in compliance with the requirements 49 CFR Part 674.

D. RTA Reporting Requirements. On or before February 15th of each year, the RTA will submit the following material in a report to the SSOA:

1. the safety plan, with an indication of any changes to that document during the preceding 12 months;

2. a report on all internal safety audits performed during the preceding calendar year to include, a listing of the internal safety audits conducted the previous calendar year, an updated schedule for audits that will be conducted in the current three-year cycle, and a status of all findings, recommendations and corrective actions resulting from the audits conducted the previous calendar year;

3. a report listing all reportable accidents and unacceptable hazards identified during the previous 12-month period that describes any causal factors identified through investigation, and identifies the status of corrective actions;

4. a certification that the RTA is in compliance with this SSOPS and any federal rules applicable to its safety plan.

E. SSOA and RTA Communications. The SSOA will maintain on-going communications with the RTA regarding safety related aspects of the RFGPTS. To facilitate communications, the SSOA will attend monthly meetings to discuss the status of accident/incident/event investigations, open CAPs, identified unacceptable hazards, and other safety related topics. In addition, the SSOA will participate in safety related training and other events and will conduct on-site inspections. The inspections may include, but not be limited to; reviewing and approving accident investigation procedures and reports; reviewing monthly construction reports, as appropriate; and collecting and reviewing other data as leading indicators of safety related events to identify mitigation measures.

La. Admin. Code tit. 70, § IX-1503

Promulgated by the Department of Transportation and Development, Office of Multimodal Commerce, LR 44922 (5/1/2018).

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