Federal Railroad Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document provides the public with notice that, on October 20, 2023, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) 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.

This document provides the public with notice that, on October 16, 2023, the Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system to notify FRA of a planned PTC outage to perform a necessary PTC Back Office Subsystem upgrade during December 2023. FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on the railroad's RFA to its PTC system.

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 describes the information collection and its expected burden. On August 8, 2023, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the two ICRs.

The purpose of this notice is to inform the public about FRA's regulations permitting railroads to temporarily reroute a train equipped with a positive train control (PTC) system onto a track not equipped with a PTC system, in the event an emergency prevents usage of the regularly used track. This notice contains information about the process a railroad must follow to notify FRA and/or obtain FRA's approval, depending on the duration of the rerouting.

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.

FRA is issuing Safety Advisory 2023-06 to emphasize the importance of rules and procedures regarding the safety of roadway workers who operate or work near roadway maintenance machines (RMM). This safety advisory recommends that railroads and contractors review and update their rules regarding the safety of roadway workers who operate or work near RMMs, communicate those changes to their employees, and monitor their employees for compliance with existing rules and procedures and updated rules and procedures, if implemented. In addition, this safety advisory recommends that railroads and contractors conduct additional safety briefings to raise workers' awareness of the hazards associated with operating and working around RMMs.

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 November 14, 2022, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICR.

This document provides the public with notice that on August 29, 2023, Trinity Railway Express (TRE) submitted a request together with the Silver Line (SLVR) to field test trains on TRE's positive train control (PTC)-equipped territory, which is equipped with the Interoperable Electronic Train Management System (I-ETMS). FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on TRE and SLVR's joint request to test I-ETMS.

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.

On May 31, 2023, FRA published an NPRM proposing to require railroads to develop written programs for certifying signal employees and to submit those written certification programs to FRA for approval prior to implementation. On July 5, 2023, FRA published a notice extending the comment period by 30 days. By this notice, FRA is extending the NPRM's comment period by an additional 15 days.

This notice details the application requirements and procedures for the states of Alaska, South Dakota, and Wyoming to obtain Special Transportation Circumstances (STC) directed grant funding for eligible rail Capital Projects. The funding has been made available for the program by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017; Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019; Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020; Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021; Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022; Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023; and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2022 and 2023 supplemental Appropriations) (together, the Appropriations Acts). The opportunities described in this notice are available under Assistance Listing number 20.325, ``Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements.'' Alaska, South Dakota, and Wyoming must each submit applications for projects meeting the requirements of this notice to receive directed funding. Should FRA identify additional available funding after the release of this NOFO, FRA may elect to award such additional funding to a project submitted for funding under this NOFO, as permitted by law.

This document provides the public with notice that on July 25, 2023, North County Transit District (NCTD) submitted a request to field test its new Crash Energy Management (CEM) Bi-Level cab cars that have been equipped with NCTD's Interoperable Electronic Train Management System (I-ETMS) technology. FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on NCTD's request to test its positive train control (PTC) system.

This document provides the public with notice that, on July 20, 2023, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system in order to establish an Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System II (ACSES II) Construction Zone (CZ) to support the construction of an extension of the Patchogue Siding and associated signal system changes for LIRR's modification of the current track infrastructure. FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on the railroad's RFA to its PTC system.

This document provides the public with notice that, on July 14, 2023, the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety Plan (PTCSP) in order to add information on UP's Arrangement of its Onboard positive train control (PTC) Apparatus, to correct regulatory reference formatting, and to add a PTCSP section reference. As this RFA may involve a request for FRA's approval of proposed material modifications to an FRA-certified PTC system, FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on UP's RFA to its PTCSP.

On July 5, 2023, FRA published a 30-day notice of information collection; request for comment in the Federal Register. FR Doc. 2023- 08413. Due to technical issues as the result of which FRA did not receive two timely-filed comment letters until after the comment period closed, FRA is withdrawing the July 5, 2023, notice of information collection; request for comment and re-issuing the 30-day notice to address the two additional comments. Accordingly, this notice supersedes the July 5, 2023, notice.