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Federal Railroad Administration

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building, Washington, DC 20590

202-493-6014
http://www.fra.dot.gov

ADMINISTRATOR(vacancy)
Deputy AdministratorAmit Bose
https://railroads.dot.gov/about-fra/organization/vacant-administrator

The above list of key personnel was updated 09–2021.

The above list of key personnel was updated 09–2021.

ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) was created pursuant to section 3(e)(1) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966 (49 U.S.C. 103).

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-80/pdf/STATUTE-80-Pg931.pdf

The FRA posts its organizational chart in Portable Document Format (PDF) on its website for viewing and downloading.

https://railroads.dot.gov/about-fra/organization/organization-chart

ACTIVITIES

The Administration promulgates and enforces rail safety regulations, administers railroad financial assistance programs, conducts research and development to improve railroad safety and national rail transportation policy, provides for the rehabilitation of Northeast Corridor rail passenger service, and consolidates Government support of rail transportation activities.

https://railroads.dot.gov/about-fra/about-fra

Passenger and Freight Services

The FRA's passenger rail activities include administering Federal grants and loans to Amtrak, Alaska Railroad, and high-speed rail; supporting the Secretary of Transportation in his or her role as a member of Amtrak's board of directors; providing guidance and analysis of intercity passenger rail services and high-speed rail.

https://railroads.dot.gov/rail-network-development/passenger-rail/passenger-rail

Its freight rail activities include supporting current freight rail market share and growth and developing strategies to attract 50 percent of all shipments 500 miles or more to intermodal rail. The Administration's Office of Railroad Policy and Development implements programs that provide financial support, research and development, and analysis and guidance for the freight rail industry and its stakeholders.

https://railroads.dot.gov/rail-network-development/freight-rail-overview

Railroad Safety

The Administration administers and enforces the Federal laws and regulations that promote railroad safety, and it exercises jurisdiction over all areas of rail safety under the Rail Safety Act of 1970—track maintenance, inspection standards, equipment standards, operating practices. Railroad and related industry equipment, facilities, and records are inspected and required reports are reviewed. The Administration also educates the public about safety at highway rail grade crossings and the danger of trespassing on rail property.

https://railroads.dot.gov/railroad-safety

Research / Development

The FRA's research and development program relies on basic and applied research and on the development of innovations and solutions to ensure the efficient, reliable, and safe movement of people and goods. Safety is the principal driver of the research and development program.

https://railroads.dot.gov/research-development/research-development-and-technology

Transportation Test Center

The Administration tests and evaluates conventional and advanced railroad systems and components at the Transportation Test Center, Inc. Private sector companies and the Governments of Canada, Japan, and the United States use the facility to study the operation of conventional and advanced systems under controlled conditions. Amtrak tests new high-speed locomotives and trains at the Center, and the Federal Transit Administration uses it for testing urban rapid transit vehicles.

https://railroads.dot.gov/program-areas/testing-facilities-equipment/testing-facilities-equipment

Sources of Information

Archived Records

The "Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States" indicates that FRA records have been assigned to record group 399.

https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/399.html

Business Opportunities

The "How To Do Business with the FRA" web page explains the steps of becoming eligible for doing business with the FRA and of identifying business opportunities that the FRA has to offer. The web page also has a database of small business vendors.

https://railroads.dot.gov/resource-center/how-do-business-fra/how-do-business-fra

Career Opportunities

The FRA relies heavily on railroad safety inspectors—hazardous materials, motive power and equipment, operating practices, signals and train control, and track inspectors—to carry out its mission. Safety inspectors inspect for compliance with Federal laws, regulations, rules, and standards; conduct accident investigations and report on their findings; and seek correction of unsafe conditions. They also testify as expert witnesses in civil suits. These jobs require skill in evaluation, factfinding, and report writing; comprehension and application of technical and regulatory standards; an ability to build rapport with individuals and organizations; and knowledge of methods used in installation, operation, and maintenance or manufacturing of railroad equipment and systems.

https://railroads.dot.gov/resource-center/jobs/job-vacancies

In 2020, the FRA ranked 206th among 411 agency subcomponents in the Partnership for Public Service's Best Places To Work Agency Rankings.

https://bestplacestowork.org/rankings/detail/?c=TD05

Contact Information

Email addresses and phone numbers are available on the "Contact Us" web page.

https://railroads.dot.gov/about-fra/contact-us

Electronic Library (eLibrary)

An eLibrary offers convenient access to all the documents that are posted on the FRA's public website.

https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary-search

Environmental Reviews

The FRA posts a list of environmental projects that require the FRA to pursue an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement or both an assessment and a statement.

https://railroads.dot.gov/rail-network-development/environment/environmental-reviews

Federal Register

Significant documents and documents that the FRA recently published in the Federal Register are accessible online.

https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/federal-railroad-administration

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

Any person—U.S. citizens, foreign nationals, as well as those representing organizations, associations, and universities—can file a FOIA request. All FOIA requests must be submitted in writing and are processed in the Office of Chief Counsel at FRA headquarters in Washington, DC.

https://railroads.dot.gov/freedom-information-act-foia | Email: FRAFOIA@dot.gov

To comply with the Electronic Freedom of Information Act (E–FOIA) Amendments of 1996, agencies must make some categories of records available to the public on an ongoing basis.

https://railroads.dot.gov/resource-center/freedom-information-act/electronic-reading-room

Horn Noise

Noise from transportation systems, including rail operations, often has adverse environmental effects. The FRA posts answers to frequently asked questions on horn noise.

https://railroads.dot.gov/environment/noise-vibration/horn-noise-faq

Maps

The "Maps—Geographic Information System" web page has interactive safety and trespassers casualty maps.

https://railroads.dot.gov/maps-and-data/maps-geographic-information-system/maps-geographic-information-system

Media Relations

The Office of Communications handles media relations.

https://railroads.dot.gov/about-fra/communications/communications

News

The FRA posts news items on its website.

https://railroads.dot.gov/newsroom

Railroad Crossings / Trespassing

FRA programs have helped to reduce the number of railroad crossing and trespassing fatalities by 60% over the last two decades. The Railroad Crossing Safety and Trespasser Prevention Division seeks to continue this trend. Information on and resources for railroad crossing safety and preventing trespassing along railroad rights-of-way are available online.

https://railroads.dot.gov/highway-rail-crossing-and-trespasser-programs/railroad-crossing-safety-trespass

Railroad Safety

The Office of Safety Analysis posts railroad safety information—data related to railroad accidents and incidents, including highway-rail grade crossing accidents, rail equipment accidents, and employee injuries and illnesses—on its website.

https://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/OfficeofSafety/Default.aspx

The FRA has a new safety data website.

https://railroads.dot.gov/forms-guides-publications/guides/interacting-new-fra-safety-data-website

The FRA monitors the occurrence of train accidents and incidents and investigates serious events to determine their cause and to assess compliance with safety laws and regulations. Detailed information on these investigations is available on the FRA's website.

https://railroads.dot.gov/railroad-safety/accident-data-reporting-and-investigations

Operation Lifesaver, Inc., is a nonprofit organization and a rail safety education leader.

https://oli.org/about-us

Research / Development

The Office of Research and Development is organized into four divisions and works in 10 program areas. An online table shows where the four divisions and 10 program areas intersect with the most frequent causes of railroad accidents and incidents.

https://railroads.dot.gov/research-development/program-areas/program-areas

Social Media

The FRA posts photographs and tweets announcements and other newsworthy items on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/USDOTFRA

The FRA has a Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/USDOTFRA

The FRA posts videos on its YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/user/usdotfra