FRA again delays rule on passenger railroad safety programs

Washington — The Federal Railroad Administration has extended until March 4 its stay on publishing a final rule requiring commuter and intercity passenger railroads to develop and implement system safety programs.

According to a notice published in the Aug. 30 Federal Register, FRA is delaying publication of the final rule to review comments on a notice of proposed rulemaking published in the June 12 Federal Register. Previously, the agency stayed the final rule requirements until Sept. 4.

FRA states in the latest notice that it received 13 comments, including three in support of extending the stay and one urging the rule to be implemented immediately.

“FRA believes it appropriate to extend the stay of the rule an additional six months,” the notice states. “Extending the stay should provide FRA adequate time to review comments responding to NPRM and to issue a final role in that proceeding.”

The rule was first published Aug. 12, 2016. FRA stayed the final rule requirements on four different occasions in 2017, then for a full year in 2018. In the Dec. 7, 2018, Federal Register, FRA said it was delaying a final ruling for nine months.