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An attorney for transit agency TriMet has been tapped by the federal government to serve on an advisory committee that is making new safety regulations for rail projects.

Tamara Lesh, who has worked as deputy general counsel for TriMet for nine years, will serve on the Transit Rail Advisory Committe for Safety. The committee was formed June 23 to help guide the formation of new policies and practices for a first-of-its-kind, transit safety bill.

The bill, the Public Transportation Safety Act of 2010, or , is the first transit-specific safety bill ever sent to Congress. The bill would allow the Federal Transit Administration to establish federal safety standards for rail transit systems. It’s set to be voted on by the Senate this year.

During Lesh’s time in Portland, she has been involved with the design, construction and opening of three extensions to TriMet’s light-rail system, as well as its commuter-rail line, according to Mary Festch, TriMet spokeswoman.