---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 C.F.R. § 270.303"
title: "49"
number: "270.303"
heading: "Internal system safety program assessment."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/49/270.303"
---

# §270.303. Internal system safety program assessment.

- (a) Following FRA's initial approval of the passenger rail operation's SSP plan pursuant to [§ 270.201](/cfr/49/270.201.md), the passenger rail operation shall annually conduct an assessment of the extent to which:
  - (1) The system safety program is fully implemented;
  - (2) The passenger rail operation is in compliance with the implemented elements of the approved system safety program; and
  - (3) The passenger rail operation has achieved the goals set forth in [§ 270.103(c)](/cfr/49/270.103.md?p=c).
- (b) As part of its SSP plan, the passenger rail operation shall set forth a statement describing the processes used to:
  - (1) Conduct internal system safety program assessments;
  - (2) Internally report the findings of the internal system safety program assessments;
  - (3) Develop, track, and review recommendations as a result of the internal system safety program assessments;
  - (4) **Develop improvement plans based on the internal system safety program assessments.** Improvement plans shall, at a minimum, identify who is responsible for carrying out the necessary tasks to address assessment findings and specify a schedule of target dates with milestones to implement the improvements that address the assessment findings; and
  - (5) **Manage revisions and updates to the SSP plan based on the internal system safety program assessments.**
- (c)
  - (1) Within 60 days of completing its internal SSP plan assessment pursuant to [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section, the passenger rail operation shall:
    - (i) Submit a copy of the passenger rail operation's internal assessment report that includes a system safety program assessment and the status of internal assessment findings and improvement plans to the FRA Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety and Chief Safety Officer at FRA-SSP@dot.gov; and
    - (ii) Outline the specific improvement plans for achieving full implementation of the SSP plan, as well as achieving the goals of the plan.
  - (2) The passenger rail operation's chief official responsible for safety shall certify the results of the internal SSP plan assessment.

## Notes

### Amendments

[85 FR 12849, Mar. 4, 2020, as amended at 90 FR 28197, July 1, 2025]

### Authority

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 20103, 20106-20107, 20118-20119, 20156, 21301, 21304, 21311; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; and 49 CFR 1.89.

### Source

Source: 81 FR 53896, Aug. 12, 2016, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[85 FR 12849, Mar. 4, 2020, as amended at 90 FR 28197, July 1, 2025]