Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA)

FOIA Requester Service Center:  (202) 493-6065
FOIA Public Liaison: Steve Kulm (202) 493-6006

Welcome to the FRA’s FOIA Homepage. The FRA’s FOIA Office is located in the Office of Chief Counsel at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. All FOIA requests are processed through this headquarters office. The FOIA, codified at Title 5, United States Code, § 552, is a Federal law that establishes the public’s right to obtain access to Federal agency records. Any person can file a FOIA request, including U.S. citizens, foreign nationals, organizations, associations and universities.

Before making a request under FOIA, please make sure the information you seek is not already available on the FRA’s Web site. The FRA’s Safety Data Website  has a considerable volume of material related to railroad accidents and incidents, including railroad supplied highway-rail grade crossing accidents, rail equipment accidents, and employee injuries and illnesses.  FRA has also now placed its completed FRA Headquarters-Level Railroad Accident Investigation Reports  for accidents beginning with January 2005 on our website.  All of the accidents that have been or are the subject of a headquarters-assigned investigation are identified and reports for completed investigations are available.  It typically takes from six to nine months from the date of the accident for a report to be completed.  This site will be updated regularly as new accidents are assigned for investigation and additional investigation reports are completed. For FRA and Department of Transportation rulemaking proceedings, please review the Department of Transportation’s Docket Management System .

FOIA Contacts

How to Make a FOIA Request

Department of Transportation FOIA Regulations

Electronic Reading Room

Pay FRA FOIA Request Fees by Credit Card or Personal Check

Department of Transportation Annual FOIA Reports to Congress

Links to Department of Transportation and Department of Justice FOIA Pages

Link to Regulations.gov