FRA Launches Focused Safety Review of New York & Atlantic Railway
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on July 20, launched a comprehensive, focused safety review of the New York & Atlantic Railway’s (NY&A) safety culture and management practices.
The announcement follows FRA’s launch of an investigation into the July 8, train-truck collision at Maspeth Avenue in Queens, New York. NY&A has committed their full cooperation as the safety review moves forward.
The safety analysis conducted by FRA will review NY&A Railway's compliance with federal regulations, its operational practices and its overall safety culture. The safety analysis team will be composed of multiple-discipline safety inspectors from FRA Region 1 and will also include cooperation between the state of New York’s Department of Transportation, New York City’s Department of Transportation and Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), whose tracks NY&A Railway trains use.
"Rail safety is a responsibility DOT shares with the operators,” said Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx. “Railroads must adhere to the strict standards of safety set by FRA, and FRA must ensure and enforce compliance in order to protect lives. This safety review aims to do just that.”
FRA’s rail safety team, along with support from New York’s Department of Transportation, New York City’s Department of Transportation and Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), will look at:
- NY&A operating departments
- Engineer and conductor certification
- Locomotive engineer oversight
- Grade crossings diagnostics
- Operation control center procedures and rail traffic controller training
- Human factors
- Compliance with federal operating practices regulations
“This safety sweep of NY&A, FRA will provide recommendations on specific areas where NY&A can improve to meet the high safety standards FRA and the country expect,” Acting FRA Administrator Sarah Feinberg said. “While safety among short line railroads has seen steady improvement, our work is never done to build a safer rail system. Today’s action by FRA is an important reminder of that.”
Once the focused safety review is complete, FRA will issue a report that includes findings and recommendations. FRA will also evaluate NY&A Railway’s follow-up to the recommendations and if additional actions are necessary to strengthen safety at NY&A Railway.
