Federal Railroad Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces that FRA has received and reviewed a renewal package from the State of California (State) acting through the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) and California High- Speed Rail Authority (Authority) requesting renewed participation in the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program (Program). Under the Program, FRA may assign, and the State may assume, responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and all or part of FRA's responsibilities for environmental review, consultation, or other actions required under any Federal environmental laws with respect to one or more railroad projects within the State. FRA has determined the renewal package to be complete, and developed a draft renewal MOU with CalSTA and the Authority outlining how the State will implement the Program with FRA oversight. The public is invited to comment on the State's request, including its renewal package and the proposed renewal MOU, which includes the proposed assignments and assumptions of environmental review, consultation, and other activities.

FRA is establishing minimum safety requirements for the size of train crews depending on the type of operation. This final rule requires railroad operations to have a minimum of two crewmembers except for certain identified one-person train crew operations that do not pose significant safety risks to railroad employees, the public, or the environment. This final rule includes requirements for railroads seeking to continue certain existing one-person train crew operations and a special approval process for railroads seeking to initiate certain new one-person train crew operations. This final rule also requires each railroad receiving special approval for a one-person train crew operation to submit to FRA an annual report summarizing the safety of the operation.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, FRA will seek approval of the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below. Before submitting this ICR to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified in the ICR.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, this notice announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the information collection and its expected burden. On December 26, 2023, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICR. FRA received no comments in response to the notice.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, this notice announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the information collection and its expected burden. On December 26, 2023, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICR. FRA received no comments in response to the notice.

This document provides the public with notice that, on March 15, 2024, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system to install Automatic Train Control (ATC) on the final segment of MBTA's Needham Line. The construction zone will cover ATC implementation from the Need Interlocking at Milepost (MP) 11.9 to Control Point (CP) Land at MP 13.8, and is planned to occur from June 20, 2024, to July 22, 2024. FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on MBTA's RFA to its PTC system.

On September 19, 2023, FRA published a public notice in Docket Number FRA-2018-0041 announcing that on July 1, 2023, Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation (Petitioner) submitted a petition seeking renewal of a waiver. In this notice, FRA is announcing a public hearing to allow interested persons the opportunity to provide comments on the petition. FRA is also announcing it is reopening the comment period for 15 days to allow time for interested parties to submit comments on the petition or in response to views or information provided at the public hearing.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below. Before submitting this ICR to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified in the ICR.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, this notice announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Requests (ICRs) summarized below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. These ICRs describe the information collection and their expected burden. On October 2, 2023, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the two ICRs. FRA received no comments related to the proposed collections of information.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) of the United States Department of Transportation has determined that public safety compels the issuance of an Emergency Order (Order) requiring the Blackwell Northern Gateway Railroad (BNGR) of Blackwell, Oklahoma, to discontinue operation of all trains, locomotives, and any other on-track rail vehicles or equipment under any circumstances over any track BNGR leases or owns, including the rail line extending from milepost (MP) 0.09 at Wellington, Kansas, to MP 35.35 at Blackwell, Oklahoma, and from MP 127.0 to MP 125.0 at Blackwell until BNGR complies with all requirements of this Order.

This document provides the public with notice that, on January 24, 2024, the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICD) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system. FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on the railroad's RFA to its PTC system.

FRA is amending its regulations related to occupational noise exposure in three ways. First, in response to a congressional mandate, FRA is expanding those regulations to require that railroads provide an appropriate atmosphere-supplying emergency escape breathing apparatus to every train crew member and certain other employees while they are occupying a locomotive cab of a freight train transporting a hazardous material that would pose an inhalation hazard in the event of release during an accident. Second, FRA is changing the name of this part of its regulations from ``Occupational Noise Exposure'' to ``Occupational Safety and Health in the Locomotive Cab'' to reflect the additional subject matter of this final rule and to make other conforming amendments. Third, FRA is removing the provision stating the preemptive effect of this part of FRA's regulations because it is unnecessary.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, this notice announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the information collection and its expected burden. On November 2, 2023, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICR. FRA did not receive any substantive comment on this ICR.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, this notice announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the information collection and its expected burden. On July 21, 2023, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICR.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is seeking comments on whether to grant a waiver of its Buy America requirements to the Nevada Department of Transportation (NVDOT) for certain components that are not produced in the United States for use in a high-speed passenger train project between Las Vegas, NV and Rancho Cucamonga, CA (Project). FRA selected the Project for funding under the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program (FSP Program), and therefore, FRA's Buy America requirements apply to the Project. FRA's Buy America requirements include both FRA's statutory requirements, which require 100 percent of the manufactured products and steel and iron used in an FRA-funded project to be produced in the United States, and the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA), which requires that all construction materials used in the FRA-funded project be produced in the United States. FRA is not proposing to waive the applicable BABA requirements for construction materials used in the Project, and therefore this proposed waiver would not apply to the construction materials used in the Project. The proposed waiver would apply to the trainset, signal systems, high-speed rail turnout and fire alarm systems based on the domestic nonavailability of such components, as identified by NVDOT's railroad operating partner Brightline West and the two potential suppliers (Alstom and Siemens) of the rolling stock and signaling systems for the project. NVDOT and Brightline estimate that over 95 percent of the total direct dollar expenditures for the Project would be spent on domestically sourced products and labor, including 100 percent of the civil infrastructure costs.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below. Before submitting this ICR to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified in the ICR.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, this notice announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the information collection and its expected burden. On October 2, 2023, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICR. FRA received no comments in response to the notice.