This chapter is adopted to comply with 49 C.F.R. Part 674 and RCW 81.104.115, which requires the state of Washington to oversee the agency safety program of rail fixed guideway public transportation systems (RFGPTS) as defined in 49 C.F.R. Part 674.7. These rules prescribe the safety criteria to be met by RFGPTS and are intended to improve the safety of RFGPTS in Washington state. 49 C.F.R. Part 674.11c and Part 674.13a require the establishment of a state safety oversight agency (SSOA) in accordance with the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5329c and 5329e(3)c. The Washington state department of transportation was designated in 1997 by Governor Gary Locke as the SSOA for the state of Washington. WSDOT's designation and authority as the SSOA is codified in RCW 81.104.115 and more recently in chapter 33, Laws of 2016 (Senate Bill 6358).