Reauthorized many of the administrations responsible for ensuring the safety of surface Transportation System including fm csa, and its a and h tsa, our witnesses can discuss the implementation. And identify issues the committee should consider as we prepare for transportation reauthorization. That place a greater focus on the nations Freight Network including establishing infragrant program. Others like tiger grants are critical to our nations transportation infrastructure. I hope the witnesses will provide the country with an update on efforts to improve our infrastructure and how grants are being utilized. The Hummus Committee considers reauthorizing fast act i plan to work closely with Ranking Member cantwell and others on both sides of the aisle too, to authorize the build discretionary grants, reauthorize amtrak, continue to enhance freight and Passenger Rail network, innovative Transportation Technologies across modes, coordinated research, develop and and deployments, advance Highway Safety initiatives focused on multimodal Freight Networks through programs. Mister cantwell and i are committed to improve our coastal and inland for its. Safety is a top priority for this committee and the department of transportation with 37,000 highway deaths in 2017. Sadly, deaths in cars happen when they are parked. I introduced the cars act with senator blumenthal, to prevent deaths of children left in unattended vehicles. In my state of mississippi there were 18 such fatalities, these tragedies should be addressed immediately through technological improvements and enhanced education efforts, the hot cars act would move us in the right direction. And transportation challenges. Let me congratulate secretary chalfant her efforts to prepare for those challenges and emerging technologies including the safe testing and deployment of Autonomous Vehicles. Until Autonomous Vehicles are pervasive and used commercially there is an urgent need for Truck Drivers to move our nations goods. I know the fm csa is working on a Pilot Program to meet this need by studying the feasibility of allowing 18 to 20yearold drivers to operate trucks in intestate commerce. The conversation regarding what other steps can be taken to address the shortage of Truck Drivers. There is much to discuss, safety and reliability of our nations Transportation System and prepare for reauthorization and the future of service transportation. I look forward to the testimony by the panel of witnesses and i recognize the Ranking Member, senator cantwell for opening remarks. Thanks for holding this hearing and to the witnesses for being here. Every day millions of vehicles move billions of dollars worth of goods all over our increasingly connected global marketplace. At the heart of this global marketplace, that manufacturers rely on to get products to market and speed is critical in the 21stcentury economy, farmers and manufacturers cant move their goods efficient they dont just lose the sale but the market share and shelf space and opportunity to compete. Regardless where you grow or make your product whether it is in the heartland or on the coast the worldclass port system is good for business. Right now we are falling behind. If we dont modernize our Ports Companies and countries all over the world will turn elsewhere. Ports all over america are facing competition from nations meeting robust longterm investments and infrastructure. I want to thank chairman wicker for recognizing the role it plays in our economy and look forward to working with him on a comprehensive package. In the past act committee fought for funding for multimodal freight infrastructure. Not only does this fuel job growth and American Economic competitiveness, it also increases safety. In the state of washington just one suggested Railroad Crossings in seattle cost 9. 5 million a year in Economic Activity by eliminating this choke point. We can speed up Freight Movements coming from the heartland to our ports and global markets. Freight infrastructure initiatives such as chrissy and infra are designed to do that. The fact the reauthorization, i hope we will look to increase levels of funding to meet the Strong Demand for these programs. As we invest in transportation improvements we must keep safety at top of mind according to pulmonary nhtsa data there were a staggering 36,000s traffic fatalities in 2018. That is an average of 100 people dying each day on our national roadways. The overall crash fatality number dropped from 2017, nhtsa reported cyclist fatalities so i support developing new Vehicle Safety technologies like other innovations to be deployed through our fleet and to continue to make sure we are meeting the challenge of pedestrian and cyclist safety. We also need to innovate the area of transportation that is imperative in the area of global warming. According to the epa our transportation sector is responsible for 29 of us Greenhouse Gas emissions. This is an area where smart policies combined with American Ingenuity can make a difference. This committee is involved in this issue before the historic 2009 agreement, with consensus among Auto Industry state regulators, bipartisan people in this committee and the congress. I dont agree with the administration of the proposal to rollback fuel efficiency standards. I hope the committee will play a role in moving us in the right direction. Working with all of you and meeting our Transportation Safety efficiency and infrastructure for the future. Thank you. We will begin testimony. And move down this table, you are recognized, welcome. Thank you for inviting us to testify about our work to improve safety and lead innovation for the Transportation System. As far as progress in planting delivery reforms and fixing americas surface transportation or fast act, it is an honor to testify before this committee. Safety is secretary chows priority and the department has gotten started. We are coded reducing transportation related fatalities across the Transportation System. The department has adopted a systematic approach that mitigates risks and encourages change in infrastructure and behavior to datadriven Risk Mitigation was one approach is the Department SafetyData Initiative through Pilot Projects, we are seeking to advance our ability to integrate existing data with big data sources, use advanced analytics to provide new insights into safety risks and create data visualizations to help decisionmakers arrive at safety solutions. We are wrapping up the first phase of Pilot Projects that seek new ways to finance is to fundamental Traffic Safety questions. In another aspect of safety the development and deployment of Automated Vehicle technologies moving rapidly. We expect this pace to accelerate over the next decade. The Department Release preparing for the future of transportation which advances our commitment to supporting the safe integration of automation into the surface Transportation System. To ensure safety and not a nation the Department Must protect 5. 9 ghz safety band of radio spectrum. This band is critically important for reducing crashes, injuries and fatalities while mitigating congestion. All channels of the safety been are actively used today with 80 connected vehicles in the United States alone. The department does not promote any particular technology over another and we encourage the automotive industry, Wireless Technology companies and other innovators to continue developing multiple technologies that leverage the safety band. With regards to Fast Track Delivery provisions im proud to report the department is acted on all project delivery rules required by map 21 and the fast act. Currently the Environmental Review process is complex and inconsistent for project sponsors. It is critically born to protect the environment, safeguard our communities while reducing project delays. If we make a better and more timely decisions transportation agencies can deliver Critical Infrastructure projects across the country and most importantly associated safety benefits. The department is taking additional actions that expand these reforms implementing one federal decision. They improve the process by increasing transparency and accountability while also expanding early coordination with agencies and stakeholders. Additionally new technologies may not always fit precisely into existing regulatory structure. Potentially resulting in a slower pace of transportation innovation. The department announced the creation of the nontraditional and emerging Transportation Technology or net counsel, and internal deliberative team tasked with identifying and resolving jurisdictional and regulatory gaps. These gaps may impede the department of Technology Like tunneling, Autonomous Vehicles and other innovations. The Council Address challenges of uncertainties in obtaining necessary authorizations and permits by ensuring the traditional modal silo do not impede deployment of new technology. In closing safety remains the governments number one priority and we are committed to improving safety while leading innovation in the Transportation System. Chairman, Ranking Members, thank you for your time today and i will answer your questions. Good morning, chairman wicker, Ranking Member cantwell, members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify to discuss the administrations role in ensuring safety in the nations rail system. The mission of fra is to enable the efficient movement of people and goods for a Strong America now and in the future. With secretary chows leadership, we execute the mission in many ways. Fra enforces critical safety regulations and partners with industry develop and promote regulatory and nonregulatory solutions to safety issues. Fra also seeks to manage federal investment and rail infrastructure, in a costeffective and efficient manner and pursues research and development to advance Innovative Technologies and best practices in Railroad Operations and maintenance. We have seen great advances in railroad safety, the train accident rate, and the injury rate. Great crossing and trust remains the leading causes of all rail related deaths. As the demand for Passenger Rail transportation in the United States grows, responsible for ensuring all of our rail systems, the safest and most Efficient Network this country has ever seen. Safety is fras top priority and people and technology play a critical role. With proactive approaches focusing resources on top safety issues while continuing Innovative Research the further advancement and Rail Technology investing in rail infrastructure. Fra announced 326, the selection of 300 million in grant funds under consolidated infrastructure Safety Improvement grant program. With significant investments directed to Great Crossing tracks. Fra is prioritizing ptc and prevention, rate crossing safety and close call reporting program commonly referred to as c3 rs. Railroad success implementation remains at the top of the agenda. As i said many times before the hearing, the implication of ptc and rail operations represents the most fundamental change in rail Safety Technology in more than a century. With 20 months remaining until the statutory deadline the department and fra will continue to provide extensive Technical Assistance and perform comprehensive oversight to host and tenet railroads and hold the trailer accountable for the timely implementation of an interoperable ptc system and all lines subject to statutory mandate. Going to prevention and Great Crossing, it is a top fra agenda and preventing incidents and Railroad Property and safety. Trespassing on Railroad Property, and grade crossing incidents are the second. Together, over the past ten years they accounted for 95 of all rail related fatalities. One of my top objectives is to lead, promote and strengthen efforts among all public, private and government stakeholders with safety issues and prevention strategies. And it is a voluntary fra program and participating railroads and employees to improve Safety Culture in their organizations and proactively identify and address safety issues before accidents occur. Fra first piloted the c3 rs program in 2007 with engine craft employees and four railroads. Since then the probe has grown to 15 railroad switch 23 commercial involved in the craft, Going Forward fra is prioritizing expansion of the 3 rs program along with other industry partnerships with sharing information among all stakeholders enabling the effective identification analysis. With real operating environment. And the railroads themselves to lead to the next generation of Safety Improvements. Fra is committed to continuing to work with all stakeholders that achieve this level of safety. Mister martinez. Chairman wicker, Ranking Member cantwell and members of the committee, thank you for inviting me to testify about progress implementing the fast act. An honor to testify before the committee today. As you know if ncsas primary focus is to improve safety among large trucks and buses on nations roadways. Today i would like to update you on several key areas of focus for the agency. First we are moving forward on refining motor carrier data. We conducted correlation study of the compliance safety Accountability Program, and made recommendations to us in the july 2017 report. We accepted those recommendations and published corrective action plan and continuing other efforts to complete other efforts in those area. That has been a longstanding concern of drivers and motor carriers. Fm csa launched a Crash Preventability Demonstration Program in july 2017 to review certain crashes, scenarios to determine if the driver could have prevented the crash. To date, 3000 preventability terminations have been made on eligible crashes and about 93 of them were found to be not preventable. This is good for the carrier, for the driver and also the fm csa because we eliminated that. Secretary chow announced we can continue the Program Beyond its original july 29th 20919 ending date. There will be a federal register notice explaining changes to the program. Mister chairman, we are implanting the drug and alcohol which identifies drivers who have committed either drug or alcohol violations making them in eligible to operate commercial Motor Vehicles until they complete the required return to duty process. In january 2020 the clearinghouse will conduct positive test results and refusals. The fm csas finalizing implementation on electronic logging devices in accordance with the fast act requirements. That requires most drivers to the onlys to report information about their hours of service. Its first compliance statement in december 2017, the full enforcement began on april 1, 2018. The last limitation deadline for Companies Using grandfathered automatic onboard recording devices is december of this year. Of the nearly 300,000 driver inspections that have been conducted and april 1, 2018, less than 1 of drivers inspected have been cited for failing to happen or grandfathered aob it when they were required to have one. Service violations decreased by 52 over the last year. The eod implementation has also highlighted the current areas of Service Regulations that may need adjustment or improvement. Last year the fm csa requested Public Comments on 4 hours of service areas. We received 5200 Public C