FRA Seeks Comments on Railroad Paperwork Burden Renewal
Published Date: 3/12/2025
Notice
Summary
The Federal Railroad Administration wants your thoughts on a new paperwork plan to make sure it’s useful and not too much work. This affects anyone who deals with railroad info collection, and they’re asking for comments by May 12, 2025. No big costs are expected, but your feedback will help shape smarter, clearer rules.
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Large aggregate paperwork burden for railroads
The FRA estimates this information collection will produce 943,444 annual responses, require 221,312 total annual burden hours, and have an annual dollar-cost equivalent of $15,467,984. The Respondent Universe for this ICR is approximately 150 railroads with wayside signaling systems.
Overall paperwork burden reduced by 1,435 hours
FRA states its updated estimates decreased the previously approved total burden hours by 1,435 hours for this information collection compared to earlier approvals.
Fewer applications under Sec. 235.5 (640-hour reduction)
FRA reports that the number of applications under 49 CFR 235.5 decreased over the last reporting period, resulting in a burden reduction of 640 hours.
New included burden for electronic records authorization (Sec. 236.110(e))
FRA added burden that was previously omitted for railroads requesting authorization to use electronic records systems under 49 CFR 236.110(e): 8 responses at 80 hours each, totaling 640 burden hours and a wage-equivalent cost of $57,043.20.
Increased reports and protest time (Secs. 233.7 and 235.20)
FRA reports an increase in burden hours of 37.50 hours under 49 CFR 233.7 and 235.20 due to increased submissions, and it increased the average time per response for Sec. 235.20 protests from 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Shorter pneumatic test record time (Sec. 236.590)
FRA reduced the average time per response for 49 CFR 236.590 pneumatic apparatus test records from 22.5 minutes to 5 minutes, reflecting changes in inspections and a 92-day inspection interval exception; the table shows 6,697 annual responses resulting in 558.08 burden hours for 42 railroads.
Respondent universe reported as ~150 railroads (down from 754)
FRA states that, for this submission, recent data show approximately 150 railroads with wayside signaling systems must comply with 49 CFR 233.5 and 233.7; the prior notice in 2021 was based on a respondent universe of 754 railroads.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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The Federal Railroad Administration wants your thoughts on a new paperwork plan to make sure it’s useful and not too much work. This affects anyone who deals with railroad info collection, and they’re asking for comments by May 12, 2025. No big costs are mentioned, but they want to keep things clear and easy for everyone.