http://www.oig.dot.gov/rss.jsp?subject=31 The 10 most recent releases on the U.S. DoT OIG web site related to Railroads en-US webmaster@oig.dot.gov (OIG Webmaster) http://www.oig.dot.gov/images/dot.gif http://www.oig.dot.gov/rss.jsp?subject=31 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2466 The Office of the Inspector General plans to conduct an audit of risks associated with the Federal Railroad Administrations implementation of the new Capital Assistance for High Speed Rail Corridors and Intercity Passenger Rail Service programs, which were mandated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Specifically, we plan to focus on (1) the capability of states and FRA to plan and manage high speed rail projects, (2) statefreight railroad capital agreements, (3) financial forecasting best practices, and (4) intercity passenger rail service bottlenecks. Tue, 05 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2466 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2429 Our report found that FRAs safety regulations for internal rail flaw testing did not require the railroads to report the specific track locationsmilepost numbers or track milestested during these types of inspections. We also found FRAs inspection data system did not provide adequate information for determining the extent to which FRAs track inspectors have reviewed the railroads records for internal rail flaw testing and visual track inspections to assess compliance with safety regulations.We recommended that FRA revise its track safety regulations for internal rail flaw testing to require the railroads to report all track locations (milepost numbers or track miles) covered during internal rail flaw testing. We also recommended that FRA revise its Track Safety Compliance Manual and inspection data system by including specific inspection activity codes for its track inspectors to report on whether the record reviews the inspectors conducted were for internal rail flaw testing or visual track inspections. FRA agreed with our recommendations and has either taken or planned corrective actions. Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2429 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2371 In response to a provision in the Fiscal Year 2008 Department of Transportation Appropriations Act, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) is undertaking an audit of railroad service disruptions since 2004 in which rail carriers failed to make shipments of coal, wheat, ethanol, and lumber in a timely manner. The objectives of this audit are to determine the standard of railroad service owed to the shippers of these commodities either by regulation or by contract; the timeliness and reliability of the actual rail service provided to these shippers; and the causes of any railroad service deficiencies which are identified. Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2371 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2341 On August 26, 2008, we issued our final audit report to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on certain actions it has taken and needs to take to implement congressional mandates and address recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Office of Inspector General regarding rail safety. We found that FRA implemented many congressional rail safety mandates over the past 18 years, but it did not have a centralized process for tracking and monitoring the implementation of such mandates. We also found that FRA addressed many of NTSBs rail safety recommendations over the past 19 years, but it did not routinely meet the Department of Transportations requirements for providing timely written responses to NTSB.We recommended that FRA establish a centralized process for documenting, tracking, and monitoring congressional rail safety mandates that includes planned and actual milestones. We also recommended that FRA establish procedures to ensure that NTSB receives an: 1) initial response for each rail safety recommendation within 90 days of issuance and 2) implementation timetable for each rail safety recommendation that FRA agrees to implement. FRA concurred with our audit results and recommendations and agreed to take immediate corrective actions. Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2341 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2323 On July 1, we released our analysis of the benefits of high speed rail (HSR) on the Northeast Corridor (NEC). The objectives of our review were to: (1) estimate the revenue and congestion relief benefits associated with different levels of HSR on the NEC and (2) determine whether HSR would pay for itself through increased revenues, congestion relief, or a combination of the two. Additionally, we sought to estimate the consumer surplus provided by different levels of HSR on the NEC. The benefits from HSR achieving 3hour service between Boston and New York and 2 1/2hour service between New York and Washington would exceed the expenditures required to implement it. A sizeable share of air travelers along the NEC would switch to HSR if it achieved those travel times, thereby providing some relief to the areas congested airspace. In addition, the investments required to reach those travel times would significantly benefit NEC commuter and freight rail services. Our analysis also showed that should travel times decrease further, the resulting benefits from HSR would grow at an increasing rate. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2323 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2156 The Office of Inspector General will conduct an audit of the Federal Railroad Administrations (FRA) oversight of trackrelated safety issues. The objective of this audit is to evaluate FRAs oversight of track safety on the Nations freight rail lines to determine whether FRA identifies track defects that may affect safety and takes appropriate actions to improve railroad operations. Specifically, we will analyze the results of FRAs inspections of track, roadbed, and related structures; and investigations of derailments and other accidents caused by track defects. Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2156 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2157 To address congressional concerns regarding whether or not the FRA has taken certain actions to promote safety on the Nations freight and passenger rail lines, the OIG will conduct an audit of FRAs implementation of rail safety mandates and recommendations. The objective of this audit is to assess FRAs progress in implementing congressional mandates and recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board and OIG regarding railroad safety. Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2157 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2049 On May 22, 2007, the Assistant Inspector General for Surface and Maritime Programs testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation regarding the Office of Inspector Generals May 3, 2007 report on the Federal Railroad Administrations (FRA) activities to oversee safety at the Nations highwayrail grade crossings (grade crossings). The Assistant Inspector General testified that FRA can further improve railroad safety by: (1) ensuring compliance with mandatory reporting requirements for grade crossing collisions, (2) increasing FRAs involvement in investigations of grade crossing collisions, (3) addressing sight obstructions at grade crossings without automated warning devices, (4) establishing reporting requirements for FRAs national grade crossing inventory system, and (5) requiring states with the most dangerous crossings to develop action plans. Tue, 22 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2049 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2041 On May 8, 2007, the Assistant Inspector General for Surface and Maritime Programs testified before the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials regarding the Office of Inspector Generals May 3, 2007 report on the Federal Railroad Administrations (FRA) activities to oversee safety at the Nations highwayrail grade crossings (grade crossings). The Assistant Inspector General testified that FRA can further improve railroad safety by: (1) ensuring compliance with mandatory reporting requirements for grade crossing collisions, (2) increasing FRAs involvement in investigations of grade crossing collisions, (3) addressing sight obstructions at grade crossings without automated warning devices, (4) establishing reporting requirements for FRAs national grade crossing inventory system, and (5) requiring states with the most dangerous crossings to develop action plans. Tue, 08 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2041 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2040 On May 3, 2007, we issued our fourth audit report on the Federal Railroad Administrations (FRA) activities to oversee safety at the Nations highwayrail grade crossings (grade crossings). This report was a followup to the audit report we issued on November 28, 2005. We found that FRA can do more to ensure compliance with mandatory reporting requirements, including reviewing the railroads grade crossing collision records and assessing civil penalties for reporting failures. We also found that FRA has no assurance that sight obstructions are addressed at passive grade crossings (those without automated warning devices) in most states.We recommended that FRA strengthen safety oversight by ensuring that the railroads comply with mandatory requirements to report each grade crossing collision to FRAs accident reporting system by: (a) developing and implementing an action plan for conducting periodic reviews of the grade crossing collision records maintained by each railroad, including promptly notifying the responsible railroads when unreported collisions are identified; (b) testing random samples of the railroads grade crossing collision reports to determine whether the information is accurate, timely, and complete, including comparing such reports to those generated by local law enforcement agencies; and (c) issuing a violation and assessing a civil penalty each time a railroad fails to submit a grade crossing collision report in accordance with Federal requirements, on a consistent basis. Moreover, FRA should assess higher civil penalties against each railroad that repeatedly fails to report crossing collisions. We also recommended that FRA work with FHWA to develop model legislation for states to improve safety by addressing sight obstructions at grade crossings that are equipped solely with signs, pavement markings, and other passive warnings. Thu, 03 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2040