The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has launched a new online public safety data website, designed to be more user-friendly and meet the requirements of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. The site can be accessed at https://data.transportation.gov/stories/s/FRA-Safety-Data/dakf-i7zd and aims to simplify access to information for the public.
A redesign group, comprising stakeholders from FRA, railroads, industry associations, state Departments of Transportation (DOTs), and researchers, was formed to gather user requirements and test the site's functionality. This new platform replaces two older websites, including one from the 1990s that offered limited customization options for users.
The updated site integrates approximately 30 reports into an interactive format that combines data tables, visuals, and narratives. Users can select specific data using controls like dropdown filters and parameters, with options to sort results in various ways. The FRA plans to continue updating the site throughout 2025 based on stakeholder feedback.
FRA Acting Administrator Drew Feeley said, "Our new public FRA Safety Data website increases transparency which is a Trump Administration priority." He added that the new features provide users with greater flexibility in querying railroad safety data.
The website offers improved navigation with descriptive report titles and summaries, streamlined reports, expanded filter options, and additional resource links for better understanding of data queries. This modernization effort aims to enhance data assets while improving accessibility and promoting data literacy. It also provides OData and API access for automatic updates without manual exports.
The FRA's new site aligns with the Department of Transportation’s Open Data Portal at data.transportation.gov and includes a Data Catalog listing available datasets by agency or topic.
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