Federal Rail Agency Probes Public on Info Collection Plans
Published Date: 2/18/2026
Notice
Summary
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 information requests, and you have until March 20, 2026, to share your comments. No big costs or changes yet—just a chance to weigh in before the paperwork gets the green light!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Paperwork Burden for Track Owners
Railroads, track owners, States, the District of Columbia, and political subdivisions must keep complying with FRA’s information collections under the Bridge Safety Standards. FRA estimates a respondent universe of 784 track owners, 50 States and DC, and 200 political subdivisions with a total of 200,480 annual responses, 34,616 total annual burden hours, and a total annual burden dollar cost equivalent of $3,085,383.04.
Bridge Worker Safety Net Testing Rules
Bridge safety nets used as fall protection must be drop-tested at the job site after initial installation and before use, after major repairs, and at 6-month intervals if left at one site; if a drop-test is not feasible, the railroad, railroad contractor, or a designated certified person must provide written certification that the net meets the standards in 49 CFR 214.105. FRA and State inspectors use this information to enforce the rule.
Public Access to Bridge Inspection Reports
Under the FAST Act and FRA implementation, a State or a political subdivision can obtain a public version of a railroad-generated bridge inspection report by using FRA’s "Bridge Inspection Report Public Version Request Form" (FRA F 6180.167); FRA notes it developed that form to facilitate such requests.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-16592, Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
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.
2026-16593, Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
The Federal Railroad Administration wants your thoughts on their plan to collect info from the public to help them do their job better. They’re asking for comments by October 13, 2026, to make sure the process is clear, useful, and not too much work. This affects anyone who might provide info to the FRA and aims to keep things smooth without extra costs or hassle.
2026-15724, High-Speed Train Noise Emission Standards
This NPRM seeks to amend the noise emission regulations to address the unique noise emission characteristics of trains operating at speeds exceeding 160 miles per hour (mph). Specifically, the proposed regulation would provide an alternative standard for noise emissions from train operations exceeding 160 mph, up to 220 mph, and also provide a special approval process for noise emissions from train operations exceeding 220 mph. This alternative noise emission standard and compliance process would effectively remove an existing regulatory barrier to the railroad industry for high-speed rail operations, while continuing to protect public health and welfare. Existing noise emission limits for all train operations at speeds up to 160 mph would continue to apply, and these existing limits would remain available for demonstrating compliance at higher speeds as well.
2026-15605, Qualification and Certification of Locomotive Engineers and Conductors; English Language Proficiency and Other Requirements
FRA proposes to amend its regulations governing the qualification and certification of locomotive engineers and conductors to establish English language proficiency as a requirement for a railroad carrier to certify and recertify locomotive engineers and conductors. FRA also proposes that each railroad carrier conducting a triennial examination of skill performance, and an annual operational monitoring observation for locomotive engineers, which are current requirements, conduct those examinations and observations without engaging energy management systems that limit the need for a locomotive engineer to operate the throttle or braking systems. Further, FRA proposes to codify limitations on operations at the southern border, including a 10 route-mile geographic limitation, to ensure domestic training, testing, and certification requirements for Mexican crew members are adequate. In addition, FRA proposes changes to clarify that a locomotive engineer or conductor's territorial qualification is limited to the specific direction of travel traversed during the qualification process.
2026-14324, Notice of Petition for Amendment of Waiver of Compliance
The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association wants to add 8 more railroads to a special rule that changes work-hour limits for train workers. This affects those railroads and their employees by allowing some flexibility in hours, with safety training included. The public can share their thoughts by September 14, 2026, before any decision is made.
2026-14328, Notice of Petition for Waiver of Compliance
CSX Transportation asked the Federal Railroad Administration to let some of their long-haul trains run up to 1,785 miles before needing certain brake tests and inspections. This change affects trains on approved routes with special safety detectors and aims to keep safety strong while making operations smoother. People can share their thoughts on this by September 14, 2026.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-03145, Agency Information Collection Activities; Request for Public Comment
The Department of Labor wants your thoughts on keeping some paperwork rules the same for now. This affects businesses and nonprofits who help manage employee benefit plans, with no new changes or extra costs proposed. You’ve got until April 20, 2026, to share your feedback and help keep things running smoothly!
Next: 2026-03147, Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
The Federal Railroad Administration wants to collect some new information and is asking the public to share their thoughts by March 20, 2026. This affects anyone who deals with railroad paperwork, but so far, no one has commented. The agency is making sure the process is clear and fair before moving forward, with no extra costs expected.