White House seeks federal oversight of rail-transit safety

[babylonsister]

White House seeks federal oversight of rail-transit safety
Transportation chief details plan in wake of high-profile accidents

By Joe Stephens and Lena H. Sun
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 9, 2009


U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood unveiled on Tuesday details of the administration's plan to take over safety regulation of the nation's subway and light-rail systems, a proposal that would give federal authorities the power to bring lawsuits and seek criminal sentences.

Testifying before a House transportation subcommittee, LaHood said the move was necessitated by a recent series of high-profile accidents, particularly the June 22 Metro crash that killed nine people in Northeast Washington.

"Everyone in this region woke up the day after that crash and said: 'Who's responsible for safety?' And there was no one," LaHood said.

He called on lawmakers to pass the Public Transportation Safety Program Act of 2009, which seeks to replace a patchwork of state-run safety-monitoring organizations.

Federal officials testified that the plan would cost "well under" $100 million and could triple or quadruple the number of safety monitors across the nation. Those monitors would also be expected to have a much higher level of experience and expertise than those now in place. Implementing the plan would take about three years, LaHood said.

Committee members generally praised the effort.

more...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/08/AR2009120803964.html

[Kdillard]

1. It sounds like a good idea.

[SpartanDem]

2. Its surprising that these power aren't already in place