SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this document provides the public notice that by letter received December 10, 2024, Amtrak petitioned FRA for relief from a condition required by FRA's August 9, 2016 decision letter in Docket Number FRA-2014-0124.^[1] The waiver in this docket allows Amtrak to operate trainsets built to Tier III standards, subject to specific conditions.

Specifically, Amtrak seeks relief from condition 11a of FRA's decision letter, concerning roadway work hazards, which states, “Amtrak must enact an appropriate speed restriction, not to exceed 125 mph, for all Tier III trainsets when passing roadway working limits on adjacent track.”

In its petition, Amtrak states that, through its “analysis to determine the impact Condition 11a has on [Northeast Corridor (NEC)] safety,” it found that Amtrak's planned risk mitigations will have greater positive impacts on both safety and NEC maintainability and operations. Amtrak plans to enact risk mitigations to include right-of-way barrier and fencing improvements, investment in technologies to reduce the risk of maintenance-of-way collisions, and system-wide procedural safety updates. Because of these planned improvements, Amtrak explains it has determined that condition 11a is no longer needed and that trainsets can operate “at speeds up to 160 mph in designated high-speed zones.”

A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications concerning the petition, is available for review online at www.regulations.gov.

Interested parties are invited to participate in these proceedings by submitting written views, data, or comments. FRA does not anticipate scheduling a public hearing in connection with these proceedings since the facts do not appear to warrant a hearing. If any interested party desires an opportunity for oral comment and a public hearing, they should notify FRA, in writing, before the end of the comment period and specify the basis for their request.

Communications received by April 16, 2025 will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be considered if practicable.

Privacy Act

Anyone can search the electronic form of any written communications and comments received into any of FRA's dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the document, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). Under 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public to inform its processes. DOT posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at https:// ( printed page 12447) www.transportation.gov/​privacy. See also https://www.regulations.gov/​privacy-notice for the privacy notice of regulations.gov.

90 FR 12446