LAST CHANCE: REGISTRATION CLOSES NEXT WEEK

REGISTER NOW for the 2024 Passenger Rail Law Workshop. Find the full line up of sessions, speakers and networking opportunities HERE. Register today.

PART 245/246: NEXT STEPS

Following up on CRC’s previously submitted questions related to the Dispatcher and Signal Employee Certification rules (Part 245/6), we are working with the Federal Railroad Administration to address outstanding questions. In preparation, FRA has asked for any additional questions that we may have regarding the implementation of these rules, aside from what was previously provided in the Q&A or petitions for reconsideration.

Although we do not have a firm date for a meeting at the moment, the earlier we can provide our questions, the better they will be prepared to provide answers.

If you have any additional questions that you’ve identified in the development of our Part 245/246 plans, please send them immediately to Devin Rouse, so that we may forward them on in advance of a meeting with FRA staff.

NEWS FROM FEDERAL RAIL ADVISORY PANELS

The Surface Transportation Board’s Passenger Rail Advisory Committee — a working group of stakeholders in the passenger and freight rail industries — held its first meeting last week. Co-chairing the group are Jim Derwinski, CEO of Metra, who will represent the passenger rail industry, and Henry Posner III, chair of the Railroad Development Corporation, who will represent the freight rail industry. The committee’s published mission is to “provide advice and guidance to the board, on a continuing basis, and to provide a forum to address passenger rail transportation issues in a manner that balances the interests of intercity and commuter rail passengers, and operators, government entities, freight rail shippers and carriers, railway labor, and the general public.” The hope from committee members is that bringing this diverse group of voices together will help all involved face the challenges of interstate rail service.

On another front, the Federal Railroad Administration is considering changes in the composition of its Rail Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC). According to Politico, FRA is asking for public input on possibly changing the list of organizations eligible to put forth names for serving on the RSAC. By issuing a notice for public comments, which are due by Nov. 14, FRA seeks input on changes to the roster that would promote diversity of views and expertise, and to ensure participation by members from underrepresented and underserved communities. FRA will consider such comments to determine if there will be an amendment to the committee’s charter.

PART 225 SYMPOSIUM

Earlier this month the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) hosted the second of a series of virtual technical symposia to exchange technical information about the upcoming FRA plan to update the accident/incident submission methods. Recordings of the webinar are available.

To view the Webinar Recording:

• Go to the FRA’s Part 225 Submittal Methods Session II page

• Click Session Recording

• Enter password listed

The feedback, ideas and input provided during the polls and open discussion activity is currently being grouped and organized. Once that has been completed, these responses will be posted here.

For questions about this initiative or upcoming meetings contact: Part225Reporting@dot.gov

GET INVOLVED IN CRC

CRC is kicking off the planning cycle for FY2025, and opportunities exist to serve on committees and task forces that will recommend the Coalition’s workplan and budget for 2025.

Volunteers will meet virtually over 3 – 5 occasions to develop each initiative’s work product. Reach out now if you would like to get involved in the Work Plan Task Force, the Dues ROI Task Force, or the CRC Budget Committee.

FROM THE COMMUTER RAIL SUMMIT

Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt spoke at the Commuter Rail Summit in Boston on Oct. 15. “Pre-pandemic, the commute was not great, but post-pandemic it has gotten so miserable,” said Tibbits-Nutt, and, she said, the answer is commuter rail. Her comments at the Summit included details on the MBTA’s plans for the future, buying more passenger rail cars, extending a rail line to cities in southeastern Massachusetts, making improvements at Boston’s two rail terminals — North Station and South Station — and investing in safety systems for commuter rail. Read the full article here.

FTA HOSTS CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS WEBINAR NEXT WEEK

On Tuesday, October 29, the Federal Transit Administration is hosting a webinar in acknowledgment of October’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The webinar will provide participants with an opportunity to hear from transit agencies on best practices and information on the USDOT’s cyber initiatives, followed by a Q&A session.

FRA ISSUES NPRM ON TRACK INSPECTION

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that seeks to enhance railroad track safety. The changes would require Class I and II, commuter and intercity passenger railroads to supplement visual inspections by operating a Track Geometry Measurement System (TGMS) at specified minimum frequencies on certain types of track. The rule would also set timeframes by which the railroads must act to remediate any track defects identified. The railroads would have to meet those inspection frequencies on mainline and controlled siding track that moves more than 10 million gross tons in a year, regular passenger rail service or trains with hazardous materials.

This move is just one of the many actions taken by USDOT and FRA under the Biden-Harris Administration to improve rail safety.

FRA is soliciting public comments on this NPRM for 60 days. Comments may be submitted via www.regulations.gov (Docket No. FRA-2024-0032) and by following the online instructions for submitting comments.

The rule, as submitted to the Federal Register, can be viewed here.

• Bill Would Let Amtrak Fight Freight Railroads in Court over Late Passenger Trains (progressiverailroading.com)

• Virginia Breaks Ground on $2.3B Long Bridge Project (progrssiverailroading.com)

• Transportation Policy Gets Left Behind in Presidential Race (Bloomberg)

• Metra’s Last Pre-Fiscal-Cliff Budget Proposal Includes Station, Service Improvements (Streetsblog Chicago)

• Maryland DOT Plans Transit-Oriented Development along Commuter Rail Line (Smart Cities Dive)

• MDOT, Maryland Economic Development Corporation Work to Develop TOD Areas along MARC Penn Line through New Strategy (Mass Transit Magazine)

• Helene and Milton are both Likely to be $50 billion Disasters, Joining Ranks of most Costly Storms (AP News)

• NCTD Abandons Rail Safety Fence Plans (RT & S)