In addition to actions described in §§ 670.23 through 670.29, in exercising his or her authority under this part, the Administrator may—

(a) Require more frequent oversight of a recipient by a State Safety Oversight Agency that has jurisdiction over the recipient;

(b) Impose requirements for more frequent reporting by a recipient;

(c) Order a recipient to develop and carry out a corrective action plan; and

(d) Issue restrictions and prohibitions, if through testing, inspection, investigation, audit or research carried out under Chapter 53, the Administrator determines that an unsafe condition or practice, or a combination of unsafe conditions and practices, exist such that there is a substantial risk of death or personal injury.

(a) Directing the use of funds. The Administrator may require a recipient to use Chapter 53 funds to correct safety violations identified by the Administrator or a State Safety Oversight Agency before such funds are used for any other purpose.

(b) Withholding of funds. Except as provided under 49 CFR part 674, the Administrator may withhold not more than twenty-five (25) percent of funds apportioned under 49 U.S.C. 5307 from a recipient when the Administrator has evidence that the recipient has engaged in a pattern or practice of serious safety violations, or has otherwise refused to comply with the Public Transportation Safety Program, as codified at 49 U.S.C. 5329,or.

(c) Notice. The Administrator will issue a notice of violation that includes the amount the Administrator proposes to redirect or withhold at least ninety (90) days prior to the date from when the funds will be redirected or withheld. The notice will contain—

(1) A statement of the legal authority for its issuance;

(2) A statement of the regulatory provisions or directives FTA believes the recipient has violated;

(3) A statement of the remedial action sought to correct the violation; and

(4) A statement of facts supporting the proposed remedial action.

(d) Reply. Within thirty (30) days of service of a notice of violation, a recipient may file a written reply with the Administrator. Upon receipt of a written request, the Administrator may extend the time for filing for good cause shown. The reply must be in writing, and signed by the recipient's Accountable Executive or equivalent entity. A written reply may include an explanation for the alleged violation, provide relevant information or materials in response to the alleged violation or in mitigation thereof, or recommend alternative means of compliance for consideration by the Administrator.

(e) Decision. The Administrator will issue a written decision within thirty (30) days of his or her receipt of a recipient's reply. The Administrator shall consider a recipient's response in determining whether to dismiss the notice of violation in whole or in part. If a notice of violation is not dismissed, the Administrator may undertake any other enforcement action he or she deems appropriate.

(a) General. The Administrator may issue a general directive under this part that is applicable to all recipients or a subset of recipients for the following reasons—

(1) The Administrator determines that an unsafe condition or practice, or a combination of unsafe conditions and practices, exists such that there is a risk of death or personal injury, or damage to property or equipment; or

(2) For any other purpose where the Administrator determines that the public interest requires the avoidance or mitigation of a hazard or risk.

(b) Effective date. A general directive is effective upon final notice provided by the Administrator under paragraph (e) of this section.

(c) Notice. The Administrator will provide notice of a general directive to recipients in the Federal Register. The notice will include at minimum—

(1) A reference to the authority under which the directive is being issued;

(2) A statement of the purpose of the issuance of the directive, including a description of the subjects or issues involved and a statement of the remedial actions sought; and

(3) A statement of the time within which written comments must be received by FTA.

(d) Consideration of comments received. The Administrator will consider all timely comments received. Late filed comments will be considered to the extent practicable.

(e) Final notice. After consideration of timely comments received, the Administrator will publish a notice in the Federal Register that includes both a response to comments and a final general directive or a statement rescinding, revising, revoking or suspending the directive.

(a) General. The Deputy Administrator may issue a special directive under this part to one or more named recipients for the following reasons—

(1) The Deputy Administrator has reason to believe that a recipient is engaging in conduct, or there is evidence of a pattern or practice of a recipient's conduct, in violation of the Public Transportation Safety Program or any regulation or directive issued under those laws for which the Administrator exercises enforcement authority for safety;

(2) The Deputy Administrator determines that an unsafe condition or practice, or a combination of unsafe conditions and practices exists such that there is a substantial risk of death or personal injury, or damage to property or equipment; or

(3) For any other purpose where the Deputy Administrator determines that the public interest requires the avoidance or mitigation of a hazard or risk through immediate compliance.

(b) Effective date. A special directive is effective upon notice provided by the Deputy Administrator under paragraph (c) of this section.

(c) Notice. The Deputy Administrator will provide notice to a recipient that is subject to a special directive. The Deputy Administrator may initially provide notice through telephonic or electronic communication; however, written notice will be served by personal service or by U.S. mail following telephonic or electronic communication. Notice will include the following information, at minimum—

(1) The name of the recipient or recipients to which the directive applies;

(2) A reference to the authority under which the directive is being issued; and

(3) A statement of the purpose of the issuance of the directive, including a description of the subjects or issues involved, a statement of facts upon which the notice is being issued, a statement of the remedial actions being sought, and the date by which such remedial actions must be taken.

(d) Petition for reconsideration. Within thirty (30) days of service of a notice issued under paragraph (c) of this section, a recipient may file a petition for reconsideration with the Administrator. Unless explicitly stayed or modified by the Administrator, a special directive will remain in effect and must be observed pending review of a petition for reconsideration. Any such petition:

(1) Must be in writing and signed by a recipient's Accountable Executive or equivalent entity;

(2) Must include a brief explanation of why the recipient believes the special directive should not apply to it or why compliance with the special directive is not possible, is not practicable, is unreasonable, or is not in the public interest; and

(3) May include relevant information regarding the factual basis upon which the special directive was issued, information in response to any alleged violation or in mitigation thereof, recommend alternative means of compliance for consideration, and any other information deemed appropriate by the recipient.

(e) Request for extension. Upon written request, the Administrator may extend the time for filing a request for reconsideration for good cause shown.

(f) Filing a petition for reconsideration. A petition must be submitted to the Office of the Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, using one of the following methods—

(1) Email to FTA, sent to an email address provided in the notice of special directive;

(2) Facsimile to FTA at 202-366-9854; or

(3) Mail to FTA at: FTA, Office of the Administrator, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Washington, DC 20590.

(g) Processing of petitions for reconsideration—(1) General. Each petition received under this section will be reviewed and disposed of by the Administrator no later than ninety days (90) after receipt of the petition. No hearing, argument or other proceeding will be held directly on a petition before its disposition under this section.

(2) Grants. If the Administrator determines the petition contains adequate justification, he or she may grant the petition, in whole or in part.

(3) Denials. If the Administrator determines the petition does not justify modifying, rescinding or revoking the directive, in whole or in part, he or she may deny the petition.

(4) Notification. The Administrator will issue notification to a recipient of his or her decision.

(h) Judicial review. A recipient may seek judicial review in an appropriate United States District Court after a final action of FTA under this section, as provided in 5 U.S.C. 701-706.

In any instance in which the Administrator determines there are hazards or risks to public transportation, the Administrator may issue an advisory which recommends corrective actions, inspections, conditions, limitations or other actions to avoid or mitigate any hazards or risks. The Administrator will issue notice to recipients of an advisory in the Federal Register.