Railroad Safety: Weaknesses Exist in FRA's Enforcement Program
RCED-91-72
Published: Mar 22, 1991. Publicly Released: Apr 12, 1991.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined the adequacy of the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) enforcement program, focusing on its: (1) compliance with safety regulations; (2) implementation; and (3) timeliness in reviewing, transmitting, and settling penalties.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Transportation | To make the FRA railroad safety enforcement program more effective in helping to ensure future compliance, the Secretary of Transportation should direct the Administrator, FRA, to establish a penalty process that: (1) quickly notifies railroads of penalty assessments; (2) considers the railroad's compliance history when negotiating penalty settlements; and (3) settles civil penalty cases expeditiously. |
Backlog of violations has been eliminated, cases are being settled sooner, and compliance histories are being prepared.
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Topics
Fines (penalties)InspectionLaw enforcementRailroad regulationRailroad safetyRailroad transportation operationsSafety regulationSafety standardsTransportation legislationRailroad industry