Notice To Reestablish the Transit Advisory Committee for Safety Charter

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the reestablishment of the charter of the Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS). The previous TRACS charter expired on February 2, 2026. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and FTA are committed to ensuring the safety of the Nation's public transportation systems and reducing safety risks to both riders and transit workers. Accordingly, the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) has determined that reestablishing TRACS is necessary and in the public interest.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 191 (Monday, October 5, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 191 (Monday, October 5, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63382-63383]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-20306]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Notice To Reestablish the Transit Advisory Committee for Safety 
Charter

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), U.S. Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice to reestablish the charter for the Transit Advisory 
Committee for Safety.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the 
reestablishment of the charter of the Transit Advisory Committee for 
Safety (TRACS). The previous TRACS charter expired on February 2, 2026. 
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and FTA are committed to 
ensuring the safety of the Nation's public transportation systems and 
reducing safety risks to both riders and transit workers. Accordingly, 
the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) has determined that 
reestablishing TRACS is necessary and in the public interest.

DATES: This charter will be effective for two years from the date it is 
filed with Congress and uploaded into the U.S. General Services 
Administration's Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) database.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph DeLorenzo, TRACS Designated 
Federal Officer, Associate Administrator, FTA Office of Transit Safety 
and Oversight, (202) 366-1783, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cd999f8c8e9e8da9a2b9e3aaa2bb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="96c2c4d7d5c5d6f2f9e2b8f1f9e0">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces the Secretary's 
reestablishment of TRACS as a Federal advisory committee in accordance 
with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 5 U.S.C. ch. 
10) to provide information, advice, and recommendations to the 
Secretary and the FTA Administrator on matters relating to the safety 
of public transportation systems.
    The DOT and FTA are committed to ensuring the safety of the 
Nation's public transportation systems and reducing safety risks to 
both riders and transit workers. Accordingly, the Secretary has 
determined that reestablishing TRACS is necessary and in the public 
interest. The Public Interest Determination is available below.
    TRACS will be tasked with providing advice and recommendations on 
improvements and innovations in transit safety. TRACS will review 
current challenges and innovations in public transportation and provide 
recommendations that FTA can implement in support of safety in the 
public transportation sector.
    This notice is provided in accordance with the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act. Please see the TRACS website for additional information 
at <a href="https://www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-and-guidance/safety/transit-advisory-committee-safety-tracs">https://www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-and-guidance/safety/transit-advisory-committee-safety-tracs</a> and the General Services 
Administration's FACA database at <a href="https://www.facadatabase.gov">https://www.facadatabase.gov</a>.

Public Interest Determination

    Pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 102-3.60(a), in order to establish, renew, 
reestablish, or merge a discretionary (agency discretion) advisory 
committee, an agency must first consult with the General Services 
Administration's Committee Management Secretariat (the Secretariat) 
and, as part of the consultation, provide a written public interest 
determination approved by the head of the agency to the Secretariat 
with a copy to the Office of Management and Budget. In addition, 
pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 102-3.35, an agency shall follow the same 
consultation process and document in writing the same determination of 
need before creating a subcommittee under a discretionary committee 
that is not made up entirely of members of a parent advisory committee.
    Information on the following factors for the committee is provided 
to the Secretariat to demonstrate that renewing the committee is in the 
public interest:
1. Annual Budget
    Estimated that the annual operating cost is approximately $315,000
    a. Federal personnel on a full-time equivalent (FTE) basis.
    $110,000
    b. Other Federal internal costs.
    $205,000
    c. Proposed payments to members.
    $0
    d. Proposed number of members.
    25 members
    e. Reimbursable costs.
    $0
2. If Applicable, the Total Dollar Value of Grants Expected To Be 
Recommended During the Fiscal Year
    N/A
3. Criteria for Selecting Members To Ensure the Committee Has the 
Necessary Expertise and Fairly Balanced Membership
    To select members, FTA will evaluate potential members based on the 
following criteria:
    --Knowledge of trends and issues related to rail transit and/or bus 
transit safety
    --Experience in the rail transit and/or bus transit
    --Leadership and organizational skills
    --Region of the country represented
    --Overall balance of industry representation
    Members will provide a broad representation of points of view of 
the transit industry, including academia, large and small rail and bus 
agencies, state departments of transportation and state safety 
oversight agencies, labor organizations, and other key industry 
stakeholders.
4. List of All Other Federal Advisory Committees of the Agency
Working Group on Covered Resources
Unmanned and Autonomous Flight Advisory Committee
United States Merchant Marine Academy Board of Visitors
U.S. Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee
U.S. Department of Transportation Advisory Board
The Beautifying Transportation Infrastructure Council
Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee
Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee
Research, Engineering, and Development Advisory Committee
Railroad Safety Advisory Committee
Passenger Experience Advisory Committee
National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council
National Airspace System Advisory Committee
National Advisory Committee on Travel and Tourism Infrastructure
Motorcyclist Advisory Council
Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee
Medical Review Board Advisory Committee
Intelligent Transportation Systems Program Advisory Committee
Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation Advisory 
Board
DOT Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking
Bessie Coleman Women in Aviation Advisory Committee
Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee

[[Page 63383]]

Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee
Arctic Shipping Federal Advisory Committee
Aircraft Noise Advisory Committee
Air Carrier Access Act Advisory Committee
5. Justification That the Information or Advice Provided by the Federal 
Advisory Committee or Subcommittee Is Not Available From Another 
Federal Advisory Committee, Another Federal Government Source, or Any 
Other More Cost-Effective and Less Burdensome Source
    TRACS, established by the Secretary in 2009 as a Federal Advisory 
Committee in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 
provides information, advice, and recommendations to the Secretary and 
the FTA Administrator on matters relating to the safety of public 
transportation systems and reducing the safety risk to both riders and 
transit workers. The Committee is FTA's only Federal advisory committee 
and its recommendations and advice are critical to FTA's work on public 
transportation safety and cannot be obtained through another federal 
advisory committee or Federal Government source. Its work is unique, 
the most cost effective and least burdensome source.
6. If the Consultation is a Committee Renewal, a Summary of the 
Previous Accomplishments of the Committee and the Reasons It Needs To 
Continue
    Since its inception, TRACS has submitted 16 reports to FTA with 
recommendations and advice on safety-related matters critical to the 
public transportation industry. The Committee works cooperatively and 
collaboratively to address transit safety and other issues by 
identifying the best solutions based on agreed upon facts and 
identifying proposed regulatory provisions to implement those 
solutions. The Committee has provided more than 100 recommendations 
covering broad topics such as improving safety culture and 
implementation of Safety Management Systems, and highly specialized 
topics such as effective employee reporting systems, fitness for duty 
programs, and fatigue management safety issues. To date, FTA has 
implemented more than 30 TRACS recommendations. TRACS is the most 
essential source for the transit industry's perspective related to 
public transportation safety and security; and its work is critical to 
the Federal Transit Administration's work on safety and security.
7. Explanation of Why the Committee/Subcommittee Is Essential to the 
Conduct of Agency Business
    TRACS is essential to the conduct of FTA's business related to 
safety. It exists at the discretion of the Secretary, the 
Administrator, or their designees and TRACS can undertake information-
gathering activities as necessary to carry out its taskings, to define 
issues for consideration by the Committee, to develop positions on 
those issues, and to present the Committee's positions to the 
Administrator and the Secretary. Additionally, TRACS is essential to 
FTA business due to its ability to provide information, advice, and 
recommendations related to taskings from the Administrator. More 
importantly, TRACS is essential for its ability to independently 
evaluate economic, technological, and institutional developments 
related to transit safety and then submit its recommendations to the 
Administrator on innovative ideas and approaches for Federal policies 
and programs. The Administrator and the Secretary can select and 
implement from among the numerous recommendations made by TRACS.
    In conclusion, this public interest determination documents that 
renewing the committee is in the public interest, essential to the 
conduct of agency business, and that the information to be obtained is 
not already available through another advisory committee or source 
within the Federal Government.

(Authority: 49 U.S.C. 5329; 49 CFR 1.91)

Jamie D. Pfister,
Acting Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 2026-20306 Filed 10-2-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P


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