Rule2026-11271
Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program
Primary source
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Published
June 4, 2026
Effective
July 6, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Transit Administration
Abstract
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is publishing a final rule amending the reporting requirements for the Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program (PTSCTP). This final rule reduces reporting burdens for rail transit agencies (RTA) and State Safety Oversight Agencies (SSOA).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 107 (Thursday, June 4, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 107 (Thursday, June 4, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33656-33659]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-11271]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
49 CFR Part 672
[Docket No. FTA-2025-0009]
RIN 2132-AB58
Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is publishing a final
rule amending the reporting requirements for the Public Transportation
Safety Certification Training Program (PTSCTP). This final rule reduces
reporting burdens for rail transit agencies (RTA) and State Safety
Oversight Agencies (SSOA).
DATES: This rule is effective July 6, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For program matters, contact Jeremy
Furrer, Office of Transit Safety and Oversight, FTA, telephone at (202)
366-8929 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d7bdb2a5b2baaef9b1a2a5a5b2a597b3b8a3f9b0b8a1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9af0ffe8fff7e3b4fcefe8e8ffe8dafef5eeb4fdf5ec">[email protected]</span></a>. For legal matters, contact Mark
Montgomery, Office of Chief Counsel, (202) 366-1017 or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ea878b9881c48785849e8d85878f9893aa8e859ec48d859c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0f626e7d64216260617b6860626a7d764f6b607b21686079">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Table of Contents
I. Executive Summary
A. Statutory Authority
B. Background
C. Summary of Provisions
II. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Response to Comments
III. Regulatory Analyses and Notices
I. Executive Summary
This final rule amends the PTSCTP regulation at 49 CFR part 672.
The final rule maintains the existing minimum training requirements for
SSOA employees and contractors who conduct reviews, inspections,
examinations, and other safety oversight activities of public
transportation systems, and employees and contractors who are directly
responsible for the safety oversight of a rail fixed guideway public
transportation system. This final rule reduces the burden of the
reporting requirement in 49 CFR 672.21(d) by reducing the reporting
frequency from semiannual to annual, and by removing the reference to
reporting dates for additional reporting flexibility.
A. Statutory Authority
Congress directed FTA to create and implement a comprehensive
Public Transportation Safety Program, one element of which is the
requirement for PTSCTP, in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st
Century Act (MAP-21) (Pub. L. 112-141; July 6, 2012), codified at 49
U.S.C. 5329. Specifically, 49 U.S.C. 5329(c) directed FTA to establish
a PTSCTP for Federal and State employees, or other designated
personnel, who conduct safety audits and examinations of public
transportation systems and employees of public transportation agencies
directly responsible for safety oversight.
B. Background
To implement the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5329(c), FTA issued a
final rule
[[Page 33657]]
on July 19, 2018, which added part 672, ``Public Transportation Safety
Certification Training Program,'' to title 49 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (83 FR 34053). Subsequently, the Infrastructure Investment
and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117-58; November 15, 2021) added new requirements
to FTA's Public Transportation Safety Program that FTA addressed in the
PTSCTP curriculum through a final rule on August 14, 2024 (89 FR
65999). To ensure compliance with safety training requirements, the
2024 final rule established a semiannual reporting requirement at 49
CFR 672.21(d) for each SSOA and RTA to submit a current list of
individuals designated as required PTSCTP participants, and the course
or courses that the agency has identified as required for PTSCTP
recertification.
On April 3, 2025, as part of its implementation of Executive Order
(E.O.) 14219, ``Ensuring Lawful Governance and Implementation of the
President's `Department of Government Efficiency' Deregulatory
Agenda,'' issued on February 19, 2025, and E.O. 14192, ``Unleashing
Prosperity through Deregulation,'' issued on January 31, 2025, DOT
issued a request for information (RFI) seeking comments and information
to assist DOT in identifying existing regulations, guidance, paperwork
requirements, and other regulatory requirements to be modified or
repealed, consistent with law, to achieve meaningful burden reduction
while continuing to meet statutory obligations and ensure the safety of
the U.S. transportation system (90 FR 14953). In response to the RFI,
the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), a nonprofit
group that advocates for the interests of the public transportation
industry in the United States, commented that the semiannual reporting
requirement in 49 CFR 672.21(d) is an ``undue burden'' on transit
agencies. APTA also noted that some SSOAs are implementing this
requirement through the program standards they must establish under 49
CFR 674.27. Responsive to APTA's comment, and to achieve meaningful
burden reduction, FTA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)
on July 1, 2025, proposing to reduce the frequency of the reporting
requirement from semiannual to annual (90 FR 28697). In this final
rule, FTA is adopting the change as proposed.
C. Summary of Provisions
FTA is amending 49 CFR 672.21(d) to require annual, rather than
semiannual, reporting of compliance with safety training requirements.
II. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Response to Comments
FTA issued an NPRM for the PTSCTP on July 1, 2025. The public
comment period for the NPRM closed on September 2, 2025. FTA received
five comment submissions to the rulemaking docket. Commenters included
States, transit agencies, industry associations, and a labor union.
Some comments within these submissions were outside the scope of this
rulemaking, and FTA does not respond to comments in this final rule
that were outside the scope. FTA thanks the industry association that
provided these comments and will take them into consideration for the
future.
FTA reviewed all relevant comments and took them into consideration
when developing the final rule.
Comments: FTA received four comments in support of the proposed
modification to Sec. 672.21(d). Two industry associations commented
that this modification will appreciably reduce the reporting burden.
One RTA and one SSOA also expressed full support of FTA's proposed
amendment. The RTA stated that this amendment will alleviate
unnecessary administrative burden while maintaining accountability for
compliance with PTSCTP requirements, improve efficiency, and advance
regulatory streamlining consistent with E.O.s 14192 and 14219. It also
stated that the change will preserve safety oversight integrity, as
annual reporting is sufficient for FTA to track PTSCTP compliance.
One labor union strongly opposed FTA's proposal, arguing that
semiannual reporting is an accountability mechanism ensuring agencies
are attentive to safety training compliance and certification
requirements. The commenter stated that changing this requirement to
annual reporting would double the length of time during which
noncompliance, errors, or omissions could continue undetected. They
further argued the proposal would result in only ``trivial'' cost
savings, and that the estimated burden reduction does not justify the
risk of safety oversight gaps. The commenter recommended that FTA
retain the current semiannual reporting requirement.
FTA Response: FTA appreciates the comments supporting its proposal
and agrees that this change will reduce the reporting burden for RTAs
and SSOAs and improve efficiency. FTA appreciates the comment
expressing concern with the proposed amendment; however, FTA disagrees
that the proposal would create gaps in safety or oversight. The
reporting requirement at Sec. 672.21(d) is not the only accountability
mechanism to ensure recipients comply with the PTSCTP safety training
and certification requirements. FTA monitors compliance with PTSCTP
requirements through the Certifications and Assurances for FTA Grants
and Cooperative Agreements (Category 15), which is a required
certification under Sec. Sec. 672.31 and 674.39. SSOAs conduct
oversight pursuant to the State Safety Oversight (SSO) regulation at
Sec. 674.27(a)(7), which requires SSOAs to ensure RTA compliance with
PTSCTP requirements. FTA monitors each SSOA's compliance with these
regulations through SSOA annual reporting to FTA and FTA's triennial
audits of SSOAs under 49 U.S.C. 5329(e)(10). FTA also may review a
recipient's compliance with PTSCTP whenever it deems necessary,
including investigating any specific allegations of noncompliance.
Based on FTA's experience administering the PTSCTP reporting
requirements and feedback from the industry, including comments in this
docket and APTA's comment on the RFI described in Section I.B above,
FTA finds that the burden of semiannual reporting fails to outweigh the
benefit. Annual reporting, combined with existing oversight mechanisms,
is sufficient to oversee recipient compliance with PTSCTP requirements.
Accordingly, FTA finds that reducing the frequency of reporting from
semiannual to annual is justified and is finalizing the change as
proposed.
III. Regulatory Analyses and Notices
Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 (Regulatory Review)
E.O. 12866 (``Regulatory Planning and Review''), as supplemented by
E.O. 13563 (``Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review''), directs
Federal agencies to assess the benefits and costs of regulations and to
select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits when possible.
This action does not meet the criteria of a ``significant regulatory
action.'' Therefore, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has not
reviewed this action.
The amendment to the rule will reduce reporting requirements for
SSOAs and RTAs subject to the PTSCTP. Previously, agencies were
required to report information on designated participants and
recertification courses semiannually to FTA; the amended rule reduces
the frequency from semiannual to annual.
[[Page 33658]]
The reduced reporting requirements will result in cost savings for
regulated entities. The requirements affect 31 SSOAs and 64 RTAs in
operation as of March 1, 2023, for a total of 95 agencies. In the 2024
final rule, FTA estimated that an agency would spend four hours per
year to fulfill semiannual reporting requirements, for a total of 380
hours per year across the 95 agencies. Reducing the frequency to annual
reporting will result in total savings of 190 hours (380 hours / 2) per
year.
To estimate cost savings, FTA used May 2024 occupational wage data
from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the latest available as of May
2025, in the ``Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation'' industry
(North American Industry Classification System code 485000).\1\ To
estimate the wages of agency staff completing the auditing
requirements, FTA used the ``General and Operations Managers'' job
category (code 11-1021). FTA used median hourly wages ($42.45) as a
basis for the estimates, multiplying the wages by 1.62 ($42.45 x 1.62 =
$68.69) to account for employer benefits.\2\
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\1\ Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2025. ``May 2024 National
Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates: United States: NAICS
485000--Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation.'' <a href="https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/industry/485000">https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/industry/485000</a>.
\2\ Multiplier derived using Bureau of Labor Statistics data on
employer costs for employee compensation in December 2024 (<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.htm">https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.htm</a>). Employer costs for State and
local government workers averaged $63.46 an hour, with $39.22 for
wages and $24.23 for benefit costs. To estimate full costs from
wages, one would use a multiplier of $63.46/$39.22, or 1.62.
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Over the next ten years, the rule will result in annual cost
savings of $11,000 discounted at a three percent rate and $9,000
discounted at a seven percent rate in 2024 dollars.
Executive Order 14192 (Deregulatory Action)
E.O. 14192 (``Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation'')
requires that for ``each new [E.O. 14192 regulatory action] issued, at
least ten prior regulations be identified for elimination.''
Implementation Guidance for E.O. 14192, issued by OMB (Memorandum M-25-
20, March 25, 2025) defines an E.O. 14192 deregulatory action as ``an
action that has been finalized and has total costs less than zero.''
This final rule is expected to have total costs less than zero and,
therefore, is expected to be an E.O. 14192 deregulatory action.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)
requires Federal agencies to assess the impact of a regulation on small
entities unless the agency determines that the regulation is not
expected to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number
of small entities.
Under the Act, public-sector organizations and local governments
qualify as small entities if they serve a population of less than
50,000. RTAs do not qualify as small entities because they operate in
urbanized areas with populations of more than 50,000, and SSOAs do not
qualify because they are State agencies. Therefore, FTA certifies that
the final rule will not have a significant effect on a substantial
number of small entities.
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
FTA has determined that this final rule does not impose unfunded
mandates, as defined by the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub.
L. 104-4, March 22, 1995). This rule does not include a Federal mandate
that may result in expenditures of $100 million or more adjusted for
inflation in any one year, adjusted for inflation, by State, local, and
Tribal governments in the aggregate or by the private sector.
Executive Order 13132 (Federalism Assessment)
E.O. 13132 requires agencies to assure meaningful and timely input
by State and local officials in the development of regulatory policies
that may have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the
relationship between the National Government and the States, or on the
distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of
government. This action has been analyzed in accordance with the
principles and criteria contained in E.O. 13132, dated August 4, 1999,
and FTA determined this action will not have a substantial direct
effect or sufficient federalism implications on the States. FTA also
determined this action will not preempt any State law or regulation or
affect the States' ability to discharge traditional State governmental
functions.
Executive Order 12372 (Intergovernmental Review)
The regulations implementing E.O. 12372 regarding intergovernmental
consultation on Federal programs and activities do not apply to this
rulemaking.
Paperwork Reduction Act
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
3501 et seq.) (PRA) and the White House Office of Management and
Budget's (OMB) implementing regulation at 5 CFR 1320.8(d), FTA is
seeking approval from OMB for a currently approved information
collection associated with a notice of proposed rulemaking. The
information collection (IC) was previously approved on 10/31/2025.
Since FTA is not changing the content of the information being
collected but is reducing the burden hours, FTA will request a non-
substantive change to align with this rulemaking. This submission
reflects updated requirements that lower the responding burden hours
and associated costs to recipients.
OMB Control Number: 2132-0578.
Type of Collection: Operators of public transportation systems.
Type of Review: OMB Clearance. Previously Approved Information
Collection Request.
Summary of the Collection: The information collection (IC) provides
minimum training requirements for Federal and State personnel and
contractors who conduct safety audits and examinations of transit
systems and for transit agency personnel and contractors who are
directly responsible for safety oversight to enhance the technical
proficiency.
Need for and Expected Use of the Information to be Collected:
Collection of information for this program is necessary to ensure FTA
grantees subject to the PTSCTP regulation certify compliance with
training and recertification training requirements and allow FTA to
monitor ongoing PTSCTP participation and compliance. The program
establishes a uniform curriculum for safety training that consists of
minimum requirements to enhance the technical proficiency of transit
safety personnel.
Respondents: Respondents include State Safety Oversight Agency
personnel and contractors who conduct safety audits and examinations of
rail transit systems, rail transit agency personnel and contractors who
are directly responsible for safety oversight, and bus transit agency
personnel and contractors who are directly responsible for safety
oversight.
Frequency: Annual, Periodic.
National Environmental Policy Act
The Department has analyzed the environmental impacts of this
notice of proposed rulemaking pursuant to the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). FTA has determined
that this rule is categorically excluded pursuant to 23 CFR
771.118(c)(4). Categorical exclusions are categories of actions that
[[Page 33659]]
the agency has determined normally do not significantly affect the
quality of the human environment and, therefore, do not require either
an environmental assessment (EA) or environmental impact statement
(EIS). See DOT Order 5610.1D Sec. 9. In analyzing the applicability of
a categorical exclusion, the agency must also consider whether
extraordinary circumstances are present that would warrant the
preparation of an EA or EIS. Id. Sec. 9(b). This rulemaking, which
reduces the regulatory burden on grant recipients by extending the
baseline period to establish a waiver of certain administrative
requirements, is categorically excluded pursuant to 23 CFR
771.118(c)(4): ``[p]lanning and administrative activities not involving
or leading directly to construction, such as: promulgation of rules,
regulations, directives, or program guidance.'' FTA does not anticipate
any environmental impacts, and there are no extraordinary circumstances
present in connection with this rulemaking.
Executive Order 13175 (Tribal Consultation)
FTA has analyzed this rule under E.O. 13175, dated November 6,
2000, and it will not have substantial direct effects on one or more
Indian Tribes; will not impose substantial direct compliance costs on
Indian Tribal governments; and will not preempt Tribal laws. Therefore,
a Tribal summary impact statement is not required.
Executive Order 13211 (Energy Effects)
FTA has analyzed this action under E.O. 13211, Actions Concerning
Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or
Use. FTA has determined this action is not a significant energy action
under that order and is not likely to have a significant adverse effect
on the supply, distribution, or use of energy. Therefore, a Statement
of Energy Effects is not required.
Privacy Act
Anyone can search the electronic form of all comments received into
any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment
(or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association,
business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act
Statement in the Federal Register at 65 FR 19477 (April 11, 2000).
Regulation Identifier Number
A Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) is assigned to each regulatory
action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulations. The
Regulatory Information Service Center publishes the Unified Agenda in
April and October of each year. The RIN contained in the heading of
this document can be used to cross-reference this rule with the Unified
Agenda.
List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 672
Mass transportation, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements,
Safety.
In consideration of the foregoing, and under the authority of 49
U.S.C. 5329 and 5334, and the delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.91,
the Federal Transit Administration amends title 49, Code of Federal
Regulations, part 672, as set forth below:
PART 672--PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SAFETY CERTIFICATION
0
1. The authority citation for part 672 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 5329, 5334; 49 CFR 1.91.
0
2. Amend Sec. 672.21 by revising paragraph (d) introductory text to
read as follows:
Sec. 672.21 Records.
* * * * *
(d) Annual reporting. The identified POC must submit documentation
annually to FTA, via electronic method defined by FTA, that identifies:
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, under authority delegated in 49 CFR
1.91.
Jamie Pfister,
Acting Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 2026-11271 Filed 6-3-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P
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