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.

What's New

State Safety Oversight Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

On November 15, 2023, FTA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register proposing updated requirements for the State Safety Oversight regulation. The public comment period is open until January 16, 2024.

Risk-Based Inspection Programs

On October 21, 2022, FTA issued special directives to all State Safety Oversight Agencies (SSOA), the agencies that oversee safety at rail transit systems, to develop and implement a risk-based inspection program in accordance with changes to FTA’s Public Transportation Safety Program as required by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. A risk-based inspection program uses qualitative and quantitative data analysis to inform inspection activities and is designed to prioritize safety concerns and hazards associated with the highest levels of risk. Learn more about risk-based inspection programs.

SSO Certification

• State Safety Oversight Program Certification Status
• State Safety Oversight Program Certification Toolkit
• Program Standard Technical Assistance Guide
• State Safety Oversight (SSO) Certification Fact Sheet

Two-Hour Accident Notification Guide

• Two-Hour Accident Notification Guide

State Safety Oversight Final Rule

• State Safety Oversight (SSO) Final Rule
  • SSO Final Rule Safety Stakeholder Letter
  • ​SSO Final Rule Fact Sheet
  • Side-by-side Comparison of State Safety Oversight Rules (49 CFR Part 659 and 49 CFR Part 674)
    • One-Pager 49 CFR Part 659 vs 49 CFR Part 674 Comparison Chart (PDF)
  • SSO Final Rule FAQ
  • SSO Final Rule Transcript 
  • SSO Final Rule Webinar PowerPoint

Training

Webinar: Guide to Meeting Technical Training Plan Requirements for SSO Agencies (June 10, 2015)

• Presentation: Technical Training Plan Requirements for SSO Agencies
• 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 (February 27, 2015)
• SSO Formula Grant Program Overview Webinar (PDF) (March 18, 2015)
• 2016 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
• FTA Section 5329(e) State Safety Oversight Program Apportionments:
  • FY 2013: Excel - Table 13 FY 2013 
  • FY 2014: Excel - Table 13 FY 2014 
  • FY 2015: Excel - Table 13 FY 2015
  • FY 2016: Excel - Table 13 FY 2016  
  • FY 2017: Excel - Table 13 FY 2017  
• NTD Data Used for the FY 13 and FY 14 5329(e) State Safety Oversight Apportionments:
  • FY 2013: Excel - SSO 2013 NTD Data  
  • FY 2014: Excel - SSO 2014 NTD Data | PDF - SSO 2014 NTD Data
  • FY 2015: Excel - SSO 2015 NTD Data | PDF - SSO 2015 NTD Data
  • FY 2016: Excel - SSO 2016 NTD Data | PDF - SSO 2016 NTD Data

Advisories and Technical Assistance

• Urgent Safety Advisory: Enhanced Protections for Wayside Workers
  • Administrator's Policy Letter, December 31, 2013
  • Safety Advisory 14-1: Right-of-Way Worker Protection, December 2013
  • SSO Agency Request for Information and Right-of Way Worker Protection Assessment
• Actions to Establish and Finance an SSO Agency
• Letter to SSOAs on Subway Tunnel Audit
• Tunnel Ventilation Assessment Checklist