Federal Railroad Administration July 22, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

By notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published on July 21, 2009 ([CITE]), FRA proposed regulations implementing a requirement of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 that certain passenger and freight railroads install positive train control systems. The proposal includes required functionalities of the technology and the means by which it would be certified. The proposal also describes the contents of the positive train control implementation plans required by the statute and contains the proposed process for submission of those plans for review and approval by FRA. These proposed regulations could also be voluntarily complied with by entities not mandated to install positive train control systems. This document announces a public hearing being conducted in connection with this proceeding.