Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Transit Rail Inspection Practices Act of 2018” or the “TRIP Act”.
Transit Rail Inspection Practices Act of 2018
AN ACT
To require State safety oversight agencies to conduct safety inspections of public transportation systems that provide rail fixed guideway public transportation and to direct the Secretary of Transportation to develop risk-based inspection guidance for such agencies, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Public transportation safety inspections
in subsection (b)—
in paragraph (2)—
in subparagraph (D), by striking “and” at the end;
in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(F) consideration, where appropriate, of performance-based and risk-based methodologies.”
by adding at the end the following:
“(3) Plan updates—The Secretary shall update the national public transportation safety plan under paragraph (1) as necessary.”
in subsection (e), by adding at the end the following:
“(11) Effectiveness of enforcement authorities and practices—The Secretary shall develop and disseminate to State safety oversight agencies the process and methodology that the Secretary will use to monitor the effectiveness of the enforcement authorities and practices of State safety oversight agencies.”
by adding at the end the following:
“(l) Inspections
“(1) Inspection access
“(A) In general—A State safety oversight program shall provide the State safety oversight agency established by the program with the authority and capability to enter the facilities of each rail fixed guideway public transportation system that the State safety oversight agency oversees to inspect infrastructure, equipment, records, personnel, and data, including the data that the rail fixed guideway public transportation agency collects when identifying and evaluating safety risks.
“(B) Polices and procedures—A State safety oversight agency, in consultation with each rail fixed guideway public transportation agency that the State safety oversight agency oversees, shall establish policies and procedures regarding the access of the State safety oversight agency to conduct inspections of the rail fixed guideway public transportation system, including access for inspections that occur without advance notice to the rail fixed guideway public transportation agency.
“(2) Data collection
“(A) In general—A rail fixed guideway public transportation agency shall provide the applicable State safety oversight agency with the data that the rail fixed guideway public transportation agency collects when identifying and evaluating safety risks, in accordance with subparagraph (B).
“(B) Policies and procedures—A State safety oversight agency shall establish policies and procedures for collecting data described in subparagraph (A) from a rail fixed guideway public transportation agency, including with respect to frequency of collection, that is commensurate with the size and complexity of the rail fixed guideway public transportation system.
“(3) Incorporation—Policies and procedures established under this subsection shall be incorporated into—
“(A) the State safety oversight program standard adopted by a State safety oversight agency under section 674.27 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation); and
“(B) the public transportation agency safety plan established by a rail fixed guideway public transportation agency under subsection (d).
“(4) Assessment by Secretary—In assessing the capability of a State safety oversight agency to conduct inspections as required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that—
“(A) the inspection practices of the State safety oversight agency are commensurate with the number, size, and complexity of the rail fixed guideway public transportation systems that the State safety oversight agency oversees;
“(B) the inspection program of the State safety oversight agency is risk-based; and
“(C) the State safety oversight agency has sufficient resources to conduct the inspections.
“(5) Special directive—The Secretary shall issue a special directive to each State safety oversight agency on the development and implementation of risk-based inspection programs under this subsection.
“(6) Enforcement—The Secretary may use any authority under this section, including any enforcement action authorized under subsection (g), to ensure the compliance of a State safety oversight agency or State safety oversight program with this subsection.”
Deadline; effective date—
Special directive on risk-based inspection programs— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue each special directive required under section 5329(l)(5) of title 49, United States Code, as added by subsection (a).
Inspection requirements— Section 5329(l) of title 49, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to a State safety oversight agency on and after the date that is 2 years after the date on which the Secretary issues the special directive to the State safety oversight agency under paragraph (5) of such section 5329(l).
No effect on initial certification process— Nothing in this section or the amendments made by this section shall be construed to affect the requirements for initial approval of a State safety oversight program, including the initial deadline, under section 5329(e)(3) of title 49, United States Code, as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act.