Railroads Want Input on Streamlining Data Gathering Efforts

2026-14161 — Certification of Signal Employees; Extension of Comment Period

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is giving signal employees and their representatives more time to share their thoughts on a proposed rule change. This rule would cancel the current requirement for signal employees to be certified, which could affect how these workers are trained and checked. The comment period is now extended until August 13, 2026, so everyone can weigh in before any final decisions are made.

2026-13785 — Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is asking for your thoughts on a paperwork plan they want to keep using. This plan affects people and businesses involved with railroads and won’t cost extra money or add new forms. You’ve got until August 7, 2026, to share your ideas before the government makes a final call.

2026-13787 — Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is asking for your thoughts on a new paperwork plan they want to send to the Office of Management and Budget for approval. This affects anyone who deals with FRA’s info requests, but so far, no one has shared any comments. You’ve got until August 7, 2026, to speak up before the paperwork gets the green light, and there’s no expected cost change for those involved.

2026-13296 — Petition for Approval of Test Program

Union Pacific Railroad wants to test a new locomotive control system that could make train operations safer by letting operators control trains right where the work happens. To do this, they’re asking the government to temporarily pause some safety rules during the test. If approved, the public can share their thoughts by August 31, 2026, and this test could change how trains run without extra costs for now.

2026-12849 — Notice of Petition for Waiver of Compliance

The Virginia Museum of Transportation asked for a special pass to skip removing a fragile brick inside their steam locomotive during yearly inspections. They say taking the brick out usually breaks it, but they can still check it well enough with less damage. People have until August 24, 2026, to share their thoughts, and this could save time and money while keeping the train safe.

2026-11515 — Notice of Petition for Waiver of Compliance

The Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis (TRRA) wants to renew a special permission to skip some brake tests on their transfer trains because their blast furnace is firing back up in 2026. This means trains will start running again, and they need the waiver to keep things moving smoothly without extra brake checks. The public can share their thoughts by August 10, 2026, before the decision is made.

Previous: 2025-21840 — Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings

The NIH’s Center for Scientific Review is holding a closed virtual meeting on January 14-15, 2026, to review grant applications focused on speeding up substance use research using existing data. These meetings are private to protect sensitive info like trade secrets and personal details. Researchers applying for these grants should note the review dates, but no new funding or policy changes are announced here.

Next: 2025-21842 — Notice of Public Briefing of the Guam Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

The Guam Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is hosting a free, virtual public briefing on December 16, 2025, to talk about why certain community members are overrepresented in Guam’s criminal justice system. Anyone interested can join online or by phone, share their thoughts, and send written comments within 30 days. This is a great chance for the public to get involved and help shape fairer policies in Guam.