The purpose of the State Safety Oversight program is to oversee safety at rail transit systems. The SSO program is administered by eligible states with rail transit systems in their jurisdiction. FTA provides federal funds through the SSO Formula Grant Program for eligible states to develop or carry out their SSO programs. Under 49 U.S.C. Section 5329(e), as amended by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), FTA is required to certify each state’s program to ensure compliance with MAP-21. Review the list of SSO agencies.
Training
Webinar: Guide to Meeting Technical Training Plan Requirements for SSO Agencies (June 10, 2015)
- Presentation: Technical Training Plan Requirements for SSO Agencies (PDF)
- Transcript for Technical Training Plan Requirements Webinar
- Technical Training Plan Webinar (Windows Media Video)
SSO Formula Grant Program
- State Safety Oversight Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Request for Comments (PDF) (February 27, 2015)
- SSO Formula Grant Program Overview Webinar (PDF) (March 18, 2015)
- 2015 SSO Report to Congress
- Frequently Asked Questions: SSO Formula Grant Program
- Federal Register Notice (March 10, 2014): Apportionment of FY 2013 and FY 2014 SSO Formula Grant Program Funding (PDF)
- FTA Section 5329(e) State Safety Oversight Program Apportionments:
- FY 2013: [Excel - Table 13 FY 2013] [PDF - Table 13 FY 2013] (Remove)
- FY 2014: [Excel - Table 13 FY 2014] [PDF - Table 13 FY 2014]
- FY 2015: [Excel - Table 13 FY 2015] [PDF - Table 13 FY 2014] (Add)
- FY 2016: [Excel - Table 13 FY 2016] [PDF - Table 13 FY 2014] (Add)
- NTD Data Used for the FY 13 and FY 14 5329(e) State Safety Oversight Apportionments:
- FY 2013: [Excel - SSO 2013 NTD Data] [PDF -SSO 2013 NTD Data] (Remove)
- FY 2014: [Excel - SSO 2014 NTD Data] [PDF - SSO 2014 NTD Data]
- FY 2015: [Excel - SSO 2015 NTD Data] [PDF - SSO 2015 NTD Data] (Add)
- FY 2016: [Excel - SSO 2016 NTD Data] [PDF - SSO 2016 NTD Data] (Add)
SSO Certification
- Certification Work Plan Template (MS Word)
- Certification Work Plan Template Technical Assistance (MS Word)
- SSO Pre-Certification Review Process, October 31, 2013 (PDF)
- Pre-Certification Self-Assessment and Gap Analysis (MS Word)
To help eligible States identify necessary activities to meet MAP-21 safety requirements, FTA has prepared this self-assessment and gap analysis form. While completion of this form is currently optional, eligible States are encouraged to complete the form, to assist in identifying issues to be resolved through the SSO certification process. - Frequently Asked Questions: MAP-21 SSO Program Pre-Certification (PDF)
Advisories and Technical Assistance
- Urgent Safety Advisory: Enhanced Protections for Wayside Workers
- Actions to Establish and Finance an SSO Agency
- Letter to SSOAs on Subway Tunnel Audit (PDF)
- Tunnel Ventilation Assessment Checklist (PDF)
Updated: Tuesday, October 4, 2016