AUDIT OF OVERSIGHT OF HIGHWAYRAIL GRADE CROSSING ACCIDENT REPORTING, INVESTIGATIONS, AND SAFETY REGULATIONS

AUDIT OF OVERSIGHT OF HIGHWAY-RAIL GRADE CROSSING ACCIDENT REPORTING, INVESTIGATIONS, AND SAFETY REGULATIONS Federal Railroad Administration Report Number: MH-2006-016 Date Issued: November 28, 2005 Memorandum U.S. Department of Transportation Office of the Secretary of Transportation Office of Inspector General Subject: Date: ACTION: Report on Audit of Oversight of November 28, 2005 Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Accident Reporting, Investigations, and Safety Regulations Federal Railroad Administration Report No. MH-2006-016 From: Reply to Kurt Hyde JA-40 Attn. of: Assistant Inspector General for Surface and Maritime Programs To: Joseph H. Boardman Federal Railroad Administrator This report presents the results of the Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) third audit of the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) activities to oversee safety on the nation’s highway-rail grade crossings (grade crossings). The report addresses three grade crossing safety issues raised in articles published by The 1New York Times in July 2004. These articles alleged problems with railroad accident reporting, investigations at grade crossings, and several other safety issues. The audit was conducted at the request of Representative James L. Oberstar, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; Representative Corrine Brown, Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Railroads; ...