Rail Transit Roadway Worker Protection Programs
TRA helps both rail agencies and oversight agencies to develop, audit, and train workers on roadway worker protection safety programs.
Workers repairing light rail track
TRA is the industry leader in rail safety management and oversight. As rail safety has matured since the first regulatory requirements were established at state and federal levels, TRA has been at the forefront of helping clients develop effective, practical, and measurable safety programs. Whether through the development of industry standards, oversight regulatory programs, or rail regulatory compliance programs, TRA has been at the forefront of rail safety in the US for 35 years.
Roadway Worker Protection Requirements
Under the Federal Railroad Administration, railroads in the US have been required to develop and implement roadway worker protection (RWP) practices since 1992. With new Federal Transit Administration requirements, rail transit agencies (including light rail, subway, and metro operators), effective December 2024, are now required to develop and implement similar safety programs. The deadline for compliance is December 2, 2025, so now is the time to review RWP safety programs and close any regulatory compliance gaps.
What Exactly is RWP?
Roadway worker protection is meant to be a programmatic, rules and procedures-based approach to elevating and ensuring the safety of personnel working on rail rights-of-way. Commuter and freight rail systems, which are overseen by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), have had robust RWP programs through 49 CFR Part 214 since 1992. This Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) rule includes minimum safety standards that govern the means and methods for staying safe near moving trains.
Subways, light rail, and streetcar systems have historically not followed these FRA requirements. Most systems developed their own process for keeping workers safe over decades, with varying levels of effectiveness. As of December 2024, with the new FTA requirement, all of that is changing.
Citing accidents and safety issues within the rail transit industry, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently issued 49 CFR Part 671, its final rule on Rail Transit Roadway Worker Protection. The rule became effective December 2, 2024, and compliance is required within one year.
Some background on the Rail Transit Roadway Worker Protection requirements
Who Sets Transit Safety and RWP Requirements?
FTA sets requirements for rail state safety oversight agencies and for rail transit agencies’ public transportation agency safety plans (or PTASPs). According to FTA, accidents on rail transit rights-of-way have “resulted in 22 worker fatalities and 120 worker serious injuries between January 2008 and October 2022.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which conducts independent investigations of some rail transit accidents, issued reports on nine separate rail transit accidents involving roadway workers in that same timeframe.
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) sets guidelines and recommended practices, including for rail transit operations, maintenance, and safety practices. APTA has had a standard in place for RWP for nearly ten years.
Most recently, the FTA has issued a new rule requiring state safety oversight agencies to ensure that rail transit agencies develop and implement roadway worker protection programs that meet FTA minimum requirements.
Who Else is Involved in Transit RWP?
Besides the FTA, there are two major stakeholders in the Rail Transit RWP requirements – rail transit agencies and state safety oversight agencies. TRA works directly with both types of agencies to ensure compliance with safety requirements including this new RWP rule.
What Rail Transit Agencies and State Safety Oversight Agencies Need to Do?
The new FTA RWP rule has requirements for both rail transit agencies and state safety oversight agencies. TRA understands that for many rail transit agencies, there are existing RWP programs that may need to be assessed and updated – we can work with you to ensure a smooth transition to meeting FTA requirements.
State safety oversight agencies will need to update the program standards and procedures to include RWP requirements and will need to assess transit agencies’ RWP plans, risk assessments, and training programs.
What About FRA-Compliant, Railroad RWP?
TRA also has on staff a number of railroad safety professionals, including a former chief safety officer in charge of commuter railroad compliance with FRA’s Part 270 safety requirements. We know FRA’s RWP requirements well, and can help commuter rail agencies and others to formulate FRA-compliant safety programs.
We Can Help with Your Agency’s RWP Program!
Need help ensuring your rail transit agency or state safety oversight agency complies with RWP requirements? Contact us at TRA to help build a safer rail system.