Passenger Trains > Should FRA safety audits be subject to Congress' oversight?

Congressmen Bill Payne and Albio Sires (D-NJ) have introduced legislation to require the Federal Railway Administration to notify Congress when it conducts safety audits of railroads.  Their proposal mirrors one in the Senate introduced by NJ's two senators.

Their irritation is caused by revelations that the FRA had been investigating NJ Transit at the time of the Hoboken Terminal over-run. In the legislators' view, commuters should know that a safety audit is underway.  It's unclear whether the notice should be prompted when an audit is initiated, even if there's no evidence prior to the audit of safety problems.


Tell or Don't Tell?

This would be a bad development- FRA needs the autonomy and element of surprise in order to conduct audits and compliance reviews as necessary.

The fewer adminsitrative routines Congress gets involved with, the better. That, or they will politicize everything that need not be.

Art House