# 2026-01325: MBTA Requests Extension of Train Safety Reporting Waiver

2026-01325, Notice of Petition for Extension of Waiver of Compliance, is a Federal Register notice from Transportation Department, Federal Railroad Administration published 2026-01-23, effective FRA must receive comments on the petition by February 23, 2026. FRA will consider comments received after that date to the extent practicable. (as of 2026-06-08).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-01325
- As of: 2026-06-08
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-01325
- Title: Notice of Petition for Extension of Waiver of Compliance
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Railroad Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 2989
- Published: 2026-01-23
- Effective: FRA must receive comments on the petition by February 23, 2026. FRA will consider comments received after that date to the extent practicable.
- Comments close: 2026-02-23
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-08

## In one line

MBTA Requests Extension of Train Safety Reporting Waiver

## Summary

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) asked the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to extend a special waiver that protects their train crew members from punishment when they report safety close calls. This helps keep trains safer by encouraging honest reporting without fear. The public can share their thoughts on this by February 23, 2026, but no money changes are involved.

## Abstract

This document provides the public notice that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, on behalf of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), petitioned FRA to extend relief related to MBTA's participation in FRA's Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C\3\RS) Program.

## Effects PRIA read

- MBTA Crew Shielded from Discipline: benefit, medium. By letter dated October 7, 2025, MBTA asked FRA to extend a waiver so MBTA operating crew members who report ‘‘close calls’’ to the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS) are protected from mandatory punitive sanctions that would otherwise arise under 49 CFR part 240 and part 242 (for exam…
- C3RS Produced Safety Improvements: benefit, medium. MBTA states its participation in FRA's C3RS program has produced safety improvements, including additional signage to address recurring equipment-based restrictions, a sleep apnea program, and a ‘‘comprehensive risk assessment methodology’’ implemented in compliance with 49 CFR part 270. These chan…

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## Sources
- [2026-01325 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/23/2026-01325/notice-of-petition-for-extension-of-waiver-of-compliance)
- [2026-01325 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-01-23/pdf/2026-01325.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-01323, Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Reques…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-01323)
- [Next: 2026-01326, Notice of Petition for Amendment of Waiver of Compliance](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-01326)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-01325 (as of 2026-06-08).