Federal Railroad Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document provides the public with notice that on March 18, 2022, Florida East Coast Railway (FECR) submitted a document entitled, ``Combined FECR Test Request V 2.0,'' dated March 1, 2022, to FRA. FECR asks FRA to approve its request so that FECR may field test, on its Cocoa Subdivision, FECR's freight trains and Brightline's passenger trains that have been equipped with positive train control (PTC) technology.

FRA is revising its regulations governing railroad workplace safety to: Allow for the use of alternative cybersecurity standards for electronic display systems used to view track authority information for roadway worker safety, and exempt certain remotely operated roadway maintenance machines from existing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) requirements for enclosed cabs.

This document provides the public with notice that, on February 22, 2022, Metro-North Commuter Railroad (MNR) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety Plan (PTCSP). As this RFA may involve a request for FRA's approval of proposed material modifications to an FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system, FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on the railroad's RFA to its PTCSP.

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.

On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The BIL provides historic appropriations for railroad transportation grant programs administered by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and also authorizes new programs to enhance rail safety and to repair, restore, improve, and expand the nation's rail network. Among those new programs is the Corridor Identification and Development Program (the Program), which creates a new framework to facilitate the development of new, enhanced, and restored intercity passenger rail corridors throughout the country. The BIL requires the Secretary of Transportation to establish the Program within 180 days of enactment (i.e., May 14, 2022). This responsibility is delegated to FRA. In this request for information (RFI), FRA is seeking comments on the Program and how it can best serve stakeholders and the public in facilitating the development of intercity passenger rail corridors.

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.

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 Notice announces the establishment of FRA's emergency relief docket (ERD) for calendar year 2022. The designated ERD for calendar year 2022 is docket number FRA-2022-0001.

This notification of determination announces FRA's minimum annual random drug and minimum annual random alcohol testing rates for covered service and maintenance-of-way (MOW) employees for calendar year 2022.

This document provides the public with notice that on December 2, 2021, the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain) submitted a document entitled, ``Crossing Optimization Project: Test Request,'' Revision 1, dated November 29, 2021, to FRA. Caltrain asks FRA to approve its request so that Caltrain may field test its Crossing Optimization on track that has been equipped with positive train control (PTC) technology.

This notice details the application requirements and procedures to obtain grant funding for eligible projects under the Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair Program (Partnership Program). This notice solicits applications for Partnership Program funds made available by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. The opportunity described in this notice is made available under Assistance Listings Number 20.326, ``Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair.''

This document provides the public with notice that on November 12, 2021, Florida East Coast Railway (FECR) submitted to FRA its Positive Train Control Development Plan (PTCDP), Version 1.0, dated November 1, 2021, and that FECR's PTCDP is available for public comment. FECR requests that FRA approve its PTCDP, which describes the version of Wabtec Railway Electronics' Interoperable Electronic Train Management System (I-ETMS) that FECR intends to implement on at least one segment of its territory.

FRA announces the charter renewal of the RSAC, a Federal Advisory Committee established by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act to provide information, advice, and recommendations to the FRA Administrator on matters relating to railroad safety. This charter renewal will be effective for two years from the date it is filed with Congress.

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 document provides the public with notice that on August 2, 2021, BNSF Railway (BNSF) submitted its Onboard Movement Authority with the Virtual Block System (OMA VBS) Afton Pilot Test Plan, Version 1.2a, dated August 3, 2021, to FRA via the Secure Information Repository. BNSF asks FRA to approve its Test Plan, which includes changes to operating rules and procedures and dispatch processes, to test its OMA VBS on track that has been equipped with positive train control (PTC).