Stakeholders

BTS is a federal agency within the US Department of Transportation that serves as an independent third-party that collects, analyzes, and maintains the confidential data collected for C³RS (CP, UP). BTS also identifies safety trends and emerging risks and writes and distributes publications to share this information with demonstration-site participants and the railroad industry.

Each railroad carrier participating in C³RS also participates in the national Steering Committee and the PRT on site. The carrier works with the other stakeholders to implement C³RS, reviews PRT reports, and takes corrective action.

FRA’s Office of Research and Development sponsors and funds C³RS, while its Office of Safety consults on goals and implementation, and also funds C³RS.

Labor organizations participate in the national Steering Committee and the PRT at each demonstration site.

NASA is a federal agency within the US Department of Transportation that serves as an independent third-party that collects, analyzes, and maintains the confidential data collected for C³RS. NASA also identifies safety trends and emerging risks and writes and distributes publications to share this information with demonstration-site participants and the railroad industry. NASA conducts similar third-party tasks with the airline industry and Veterans Administration Hospitals.

The PRT consists of local representatives from railroads, union officers and members, carrier management, and FRA at the demonstration site. It promotes C³RS at the site, identifies why close calls occur, recommends corrective action, and evaluates the effectiveness of any such action that was implemented.

The national Steering Committee is made up of representatives from stakeholder organizations and oversees the C³RS demonstration project.

The Volpe Center is a federal agency within the USDOT (US Department of Transportation) that supports C³RS in three ways:

• It works with demonstration sites to implement C³RS.
• It collects lessons learned about the implementation effort to improve the system and evaluate its impact on safety.
• It acts as the executive agent for FRA to provide support to the Steering Committee, working with all stakeholders to facilitate planning, implementation, and monitoring of C³RS operations.