FRA wants your thoughts on railroad paperwork—yawn.
Published Date: 8/14/2026
Notice
Summary
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.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Paperwork burden hours reduced overall
FRA revised its estimate of paperwork burden for the RRP information collection from 60,860 hours to 31,192 total annual hours. FRA also reports the Total Estimated Annual Responses are 426 and the Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent is $2,812,135.77.
Safety outreach burden drastically cut
FRA reduced the estimated burden for the safety outreach program under Sec. 271.107 from 44,333 hours to 50 hours to reflect only the time spent managing and developing outreach materials (e.g., emails, pamphlets, videos).
Risk Reduction Program required for railroads
If you operate a Class I freight railroad or a freight railroad identified with inadequate safety performance (ISP), you must develop and implement a written Risk Reduction Program (RRP) that includes a Fatigue Risk Management Program (FRMP). The RRP must be FRA-approved, include an annual internal assessment, and FRA will audit railroad RRPs; Class II and III freight railroads may voluntarily comply but must remain in the program for a minimum period of 5 years if they opt in.
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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.
2026-15724, 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.
2026-14328, 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.
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.
2026-14161, 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.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 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.
Next: 2026-16594, Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as part of its continuing efforts to reduce public burden and maximize the utility of government information, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on a continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This notice invites comment on a proposed information collection project titled Data Collection for the Residential Care Community and Adult Day Services Center Components of the National Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Study. The purpose is to collect data for the residential care community and adult day services center components for the 2027 wave of the National Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Study.