National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Pages286-289
286 U.S. GOVERNMENT MANUAL
The Federal Railroad Administration
was created pursuant to section 3(e)(1)
of the Department of Transportation Act
of 1966 (49 U.S.C. 103). The purpose of
the Administration is to promulgate and
enforce rail safety regulations, administer
railroad f‌i nancial assistance programs,
conduct research and development
in support of improved railroad safety
and national rail transportation policy,
provide for the rehabilitation of Northeast
Corridor rail passenger service, and
consolidate government support of rail
transportation activities.
Activities
Passenger and Freight Services The
Administration oversees and provides
f‌i nancial assistance to Amtrak and
administers f‌i nancial assistance
programs to demonstrate high-speed rail
technology, to reduce grade crossing
hazards in high-speed rail corridors, to
provide for investments in small freight
railroads and other rail projects, to
plan for high-speed rail projects, and
to plan and deploy magnetic levitation
technology.
Railroad Safety The Administration
administers and enforces the Federal
laws and related regulations designed
to promote safety on railroads; exercises
jurisdiction over all areas of rail safety
under the Rail Safety Act of 1970, such as
track maintenance, inspection standards,
equipment standards, and operating
practices. Railroad and related industry
equipment, facilities, and records are
inspected and required reports reviewed.
In addition, the Administration educates
the public about safety at highway-
rail grade crossings and the danger of
trespassing on rail property.
Research and Development The
Administration’s ground transportation
research and development program
seeks to advance all aspects of intercity
ground transportation and railroad safety
pertaining to the physical sciences and
engineering, in order to improve railroad
safety and ensure that railroads continue
to be a viable national transportation
resource.
Transportation Test Center The
Administration tests and evaluates
conventional and advanced railroad
systems and components at the
Transportation Test Center near Pueblo,
CO. Private sector companies and the
Governments of the United States,
Canada, and Japan use the facility to
explore the operation of conventional
and advanced systems under controlled
conditions. It is used by Amtrak for the
testing of new high-speed locomotives
and trains and by the Federal Transit
Administration for testing urban rapid
transit vehicles.
For further information, contact the Transportation
Technology Center, Pueblo, CO 81001. Phone,
719–584–0507.
For a complete list of Federal Railroad
Administration regional off‌i ces, go to
http://www.fra.dot.gov.
For further information, contact the Off‌i ce of Public Affairs, Federal Railroad Administration, Department
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. Phone, 202–493–6024. Internet,
http://www.fra.dot.gov.
National Highway Traff‌i c Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590
Phone, 202–366–9550; 888–327–4236. Internet, http://www.nhtsa.gov.
Administrator DAVID L. STRICKLAND
Deputy Administrator DAVID J. FRIEDMAN
Director of Communications NATHAN TAYLOR
Chief Counsel O. KEVIN VINCENT
Director, Off‌i ce of Civil Rights (VACANCY)
Director, Off‌i ce of Governmental Affairs, Policy
and Strategic Planning
CHAN LIEU

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