Department of Transportation October 18, 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FRA is issuing Safety Advisory 2024-01 to emphasize the importance of rules and procedures regarding the safety of roadway workers who operate or work near roadway maintenance machines (RMMs). This safety advisory recommends that railroads and contractors review and update their rules regarding communication between roadway workers who work near RMMs and the operators of those RMMs, and increase monitoring of their employees for compliance with existing rules and procedures (including through operational testing). This safety advisory also recommends that railroads review and update their rules regarding work/red zones and evaluate the work/red zone distances for each type of RMM. In addition, this safety advisory recommends that railroads and contractors conduct additional safety briefings to raise worker awareness of the hazards associated with operating and working around RMMs.

On August 12, 2024, interstate passenger motor carriers Avalon Transportation, LLC (Avalon Transportation), and Avalon Motor Coaches, LLC (Avalon Motor Coaches), filed an application for control over certain assets of the following Coach USA, Inc. (Coach USA) subsidiaries: Kerrville Bus Company, Inc. (Kerrville); All West Coachlines, Inc. (All West); American Coach Lines of Atlanta, Inc. (ACL Atlanta); Coach Leasing, Inc.; CAM Leasing, LLC; and Coach USA Administration, Inc. (collectively, Coach USA Subsidiaries). On September 19, 2024, Virgin-Fish, Inc. (Virgin-Fish), and Jeffrey Brush submitted a filing joining the application. (Avalon Transportation, Avalon Motor Coaches, Virgin-Fish, and Jeffrey Brush will be collectively referred to as "Avalon" or "Applicants.") The Board is tentatively approving and authorizing this transaction. If no opposing comments are timely filed, this notice will be the final Board action.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is publishing a final rule for State Safety Oversight (SSO). This final rule implements new requirements of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (enacted as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)), removes outdated references, and simplifies notification requirements.

This action amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, Highlands, NC, as new instrument approach procedures have been designed for Highlands- Cashiers Hospital. This action also updates the coordinates for Highland-Cashiers Hospital. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport.

This rule amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

The FHWA proposes to revise the Federal regulations on the Procedures for Abatement of Highway Traffic Noise and Construction Noise. The proposed rule would clarify certain definitions, the applicability of this rulemaking, certain analysis requirements, and the eligibility of funds made available under the Highways title of the United States Code (U.S.C.) to provide noise abatement measures and to improve the analytical procedures. The FHWA also proposes changes and clarifications of factors used to determine the effectiveness of noise abatement measures. In addition, the proposed rule would include exemptions to Type I projects and allow screening analysis that would focus on the projects most likely to cause a traffic noise impact to improve efficiency. The proposed rule would make several changes that are intended to increase the pool of eligible participants in the noise study and mitigation decision processes to ensure everyone receives due consideration for impacts and the possibility of receiving abatement on a given project.