The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) is the designated State Safety Oversight Agency (SSOA) for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metrorail system. The WMSC is legally and financially independent of WMATA. The WMSC serves as the safety regulatory authority for the WMATA Metrorail system. The WMSC’s rail transit experts implement the WMSC’s program and focus on verification of WMATA’s compliance with its mandated safety plans to ensure that WMATA provides safe operations and transportation service. The WMSC oversees the safety of WMATA Metrorail through six core functions: its triennial audit program, onsite inspections, safety event investigations, emergency management activities, safety certification, and oversight of corrective active plans. The WMSC’s State Safety Oversight (SSO) program was certified by the Federal Transit Administration on March 18, 2019.