SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this document provides the public notice that by letter dated April 6, 2026, TriMet petitioned FRA for an extension of a waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR part 219 (Control of Alcohol and Drug Use) and part 229 (Railroad Locomotive Safety Standards). FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2011-0048.

Specifically, TriMet requests extended relief from all of part 219 and from § 229.125(d)(2), Headlights and auxiliary lights, related to its Orange Line, a 7.3-mile rail fixed guideway urban rapid transit line that connects downtown Portland to Milwaukie, Oregon. Two segments of the line share a common corridor with Union Pacific Railroad and Pacific & Western Railroad at nine limited connections. In support of its requests, TriMet states that use of a single drug and alcohol program for all employees provides consistency throughout the system, and the light rail vehicles' auxiliary lights provide an equivalent level of safety.

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 July 21, 2026 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://www.transportation.gov/​privacy. See also https://www.regulations.gov/​privacy-notice for the privacy notice of regulations.gov.

91 FR 30371