Federal Railroad Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice details the application requirements and procedures to obtain grant funding for eligible projects under the Magnetic Levitation Technology Deployment Program (Maglev Grants Program). This notice solicits applications for $2,000,000 in Maglev Grants Program funds. The opportunity described in this notice is made available under Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 20.318, ``Maglev Project Selection ProgramSAFETEA-LU.''

Through this NOI, FRA announces its intent to prepare an EIS for the Western Rail Yard Infrastructure Project (Project) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). WRY Tenant LLC (an affiliate of The Related Companies, LP) and the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) are partnering in a joint venture to seek Federal financial assistance through the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) Program, which is administered by the Build America Bureau (Bureau). FRA is conducting the environmental analysis to ensure compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and other applicable environmental laws. FRA invites the public and all interested parties to provide comments on the scope of the EIS, including the proposed purpose and need, the Proposed Action and alternatives, methodologies to be used to assess potential environmental impacts, and the approach for public and agency involvement. Due to the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency, and consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guidance regarding large events and mass gatherings, FRA will conduct a virtual public scoping for the Project. FRA will also hold other Project meetings virtually, including Section 106 Consulting Party meetings, and encourages submission of scoping comments for the project and other documents electronically.

This notice details the application requirements and procedures to obtain funding for eligible projects under the Railroad Trespassing Suicide Prevention Grant Program. Railroad Trespassing Suicide Prevention Grant Program funding totaling $293,000 is provided in this NOFO by the 2019 and 2020 consolidated appropriations acts, which require the FRA to implement a railroad trespasser prevention strategy. This program is part of the FRA's implementation of railroad trespass prevention efforts. The opportunities described in this notice are available under Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number 20.301, ``Rail Safety Grants.''

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, this notice announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Requests (ICRs) abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. These ICRs describe the information collections and their expected burdens. On March 16, 2020, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICRs.

This notice details the application requirements and procedures to obtain grant funding for eligible projects under the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program. CRISI Program funding under this notice is provided by the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (2020 Appropriation). The opportunities described in this notice are made available under Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 20.325, ``Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements.''

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted 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.

This Safety Advisory encourages railroads, their employees, and contractors to review and follow all applicable guidance available related to COVID-19, including the best practices identified in the President's Coronavirus Guidelines for America30 Days to Slow the Spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) COVID-19 guidelines, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19. This Safety Advisory recommends that railroads develop and implement procedures and practices consistent with the above-identified best practices and that railroads take certain other actions to ensure the safety of railroad operations and maintenance during this national emergency. FRA believes that actions consistent with this Safety Advisory will reduce the risk of railroad employees, contractors, and members of the public contracting or spreading COVID-19.

FRA is postponing three public hearings, originally announced on March 12, 2020, for the purpose of receiving oral comment on the Texas Central Railroad High-Speed Rail Safety Standards notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). The hearings were scheduled between March 31, 2020 and April 2, 2020 in Dallas, Navasota, and Houston, Texas.

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 December 30, 2019, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICR.

On March 10, 2020, FRA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would establish safety standards for the Texas Central Railroad (TCRR) high speed rail system. FRA is announcing three public hearings to provide members of the public an opportunity to provide oral comments on the proposed safety requirements.

FRA is issuing this notice to explain its rationale for approving a CSX Transportation (CSX) Test Program designed to test track inspection technologies (i.e., an autonomous track geometry measurement system) and new operational approaches to track inspections, as well as its rationale for granting a limited, temporary suspension of a substantive FRA rule that is necessary to facilitate the conduct of the Test Program.

FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that FRA is rescinding the Notice of Intent (NOI) for each Environmental Impact Statement (EIS): the Dallas to Fort Worth Core Express Passenger Service between Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas and the New Orleans Rail Gateway in Jefferson and Orleans Parishes, Louisiana.