FTA seeks comment on PMO revisions

Aug. 27, 2019
FTA is working to “right size” the role of federal oversight of large transit capital projects.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is seeking public comment on revisions to its Project Management Oversight (PMO) rule, which guides federal oversight of large transit capital investments. FTA says the proposed changes, including an increase in the monetary threshold used to define these projects, would streamline the PMO regulation by reducing the number of projects subject to FTA project management oversight. 

A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) was published Aug. 26 in the Federal Register.

“The number of transit capital projects has increased significantly since the PMO program was authorized in 1987 while infrastructure costs have continued to grow,” said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams. “This proposed rule tailors the level of FTA oversight to the real costs, complexities and risks of major capital projects and right-sizes the role of federal oversight to make sure federal investments are sound but eliminates any unnecessary red tape for state and local leaders.”

The rule would redefine a “major capital project” as a new rail transit or bus rapid transit project -- or an extension, rehabilitation or modernization of an existing transit system -- with a total project cost of $300 million or more and with a federal investment of $100 million or more. The previous threshold defined a major capital project as a project costing $100 million or more but did not include federal support as a factor.

Federal public transportation law [49 U.S.C. § 5327 (d)] requires FTA to maintain a PMO regulation. The rule has not been updated since 1989, and the industry and economic conditions have changed significantly since then. Other changes to the rule include updates to the elements of the required Project Management Plan that reflect industry best practices.

The NPRM will be on display in the Federal Register for a 60-day comment period.