Provide funding to oversee safety at rail transit systems

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded Maryland Department of Transportation $4,990,685 on September 4, 2025, under the Rail Fixed Guideway Public Transportation System State Safety Oversight Formula Grant Program (CFDA 20.528). The award will support safety oversight activities for Maryland's light rail and metro transit systems across the Baltimore and Washington DC metropolitan areas through March 31, 2028. Deliverables include administrative expenses, training and consultant services for accident investigations and hazard analysis, and miscellaneous equipment necessary to conduct comprehensive safety monitoring and oversight of rail fixed guideway systems not regulated by the Federal Railroad Administration.

The funded activities will support policy development, hazard investigation, data collection, risk analysis, and effective oversight programs designed to enhance transit safety for riders across Maryland. These safety oversight functions will advance a Safety Management Systems approach in compliance with 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 674, with intended outcomes focused on information sharing and improved safety protocols across the state's rail transit infrastructure. No subrecipient activities were identified under this award.

Purpose

The purpose of this award is to provide funding to oversee safety at rail transit systems.

Activities

Administrative expenses for training consultant services and miscellaneous equipment to oversee mtas light rail and metro systems and its operations in the baltimore maryland metropolitan area and the washington DC metropolitan area.

Expected outcomes

To make transit safer through policy development hazard investigation data collection risk analysis effective oversight programs and information sharing.

Intended beneficiaries

Transit riders across maryland