49 CFR § 271.203 - Policy, purpose and scope, and goals.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t49/s271.203"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "49 CFR § 271.203 - Policy, purpose and scope, and goals."
title_number: 49
title_name: "Transportation"
section_number: "271.203"
section_name: "Policy, purpose and scope, and goals."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
part_number: "271"
part_name: "RISK REDUCTION PROGRAM"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "49 U.S.C. 20103, 20106-20107, 20118-20119, 20156, 21301, 21304, 21311; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; and 49 CFR 1.89."
regulatory_source: "85 FR 9314, Feb. 18, 2020, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "271"
---


# 271.203 Policy, purpose and scope, and goals.

(a) *Policy statement.* An RRP plan shall contain a policy statement endorsing the railroad's RRP. This statement shall be signed by the chief official at the railroad (*e.g.,* chief executive officer).

(b) *Purpose and scope.* An RRP plan shall contain a statement describing the purpose and scope of the railroad's RRP. This purpose and scope statement shall describe:

(1) The railroad's safety philosophy and safety culture;

(2) How the railroad promotes improvements to its safety culture; and

(3) The roles and responsibilities of railroad personnel (including management) within the railroad's RRP.

(c) *Goals.* An RRP plan shall contain a statement that defines the specific goals of the RRP and describes clear strategies for reaching those goals. These goals shall be long-term, meaningful, measurable, and focused on the mitigation of risks arising from identified safety hazards.