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 submitt...
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION:
Notice of information collection; request for comment.
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.
DATES:
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before November 16, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR should be submitted on
www.regulations.gov
to Docket No. FRA-2026-1587. All comments received will be posted without change to the docket, including any personal information provided. Please refer to the assigned OMB control number (2130-0524) in any correspondence submitted. FRA will summarize comments received in response to this notice in a subsequent notice, made available to the public, and include them in its information collection submission to OMB for approval.
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Joanne Swafford, Information Collection Clearance Officer, at email:
joanne.swafford@dot.gov
or telephone: (757) 897-9908.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520, and its implementing regulations, 5 CFR part 1320, require Federal agencies to provide 60 days' notice to the public to allow comment on information collection activities before seeking OMB approval of the activities.
See44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.8 through 1320.12. Specifically, FRA invites interested parties to comment on the following ICR regarding: (1) whether the information collection activities are necessary for FRA to properly execute its functions, including whether the activities will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of FRA's estimates of the burden of the information collection activities, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used to determine the estimates; (3) ways for FRA to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information being collected; and (4) ways for FRA to minimize the burden of information collection activities on the public, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
See44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1).
FRA finds that soliciting public comment may reduce the administrative and paperwork burdens associated with the collection of information that Federal regulations mandate. In summary, comments received will advance three objectives: (1) reduce reporting burdens; (2) organize information collection requirements in a “user-friendly” format to improve the use of such information; and (3) accurately assess the resources expended to retrieve and produce information requested.
See44 U.S.C. 3501.
The summary below describes the ICR that FRA will submit for OMB clearance as the PRA requires:
Title:
Railroad Communications.
OMB Control Number:
2130-0524.
Abstract:
The railroad communications regulations in 49 CFR part 220 prescribe the minimum requirements governing radio and wireless communications used in rail operations as well as establish the prohibitions, restrictions, and requirements that apply to the use of personal and railroad-supplied cellular telephones and other electronic devices. FRA amended its radio standards and procedures to: promote compliance by making the regulations more flexible; require wireless communications devices, including radios, for specified classifications of railroad operations and roadway workers; and retitle this part to reflect its coverage of other means of wireless communications, such as cellular telephones and data radio terminals, to convey emergency and need-to-know information. The amended regulations established safe, uniform procedures covering the use of radio and other wireless communications within the railroad industry.
In this 60-day notice FRA has made adjustments that decreased the previously approved burden hours from 95,902 hours to 76,237 hours. This represents a decrease of 19,665 hours annually for this information collection request.
Specifically, under § 220.61(b)(5), which contains the requirements for the marking of fulfilled or canceled mandatory directives, FRA determined that the burden is accounted for under § 220.61(b)(3) concerning written copies of mandatory directives.
Further, under § 220.313(c), which mandates the retention of those written records documenting instruction and examination of this subpart, FRA increased the estimated number of records to more accurately represent the annual volume of employees that require this training.
Type of Request:
Extension without change (with changes in estimates) of a currently approved collection.
Affected Public:
Businesses.
Form(s):
N/A.
Respondent Universe:
773 Railroads.
Frequency of Submission:
On Occasion.
Reporting Burden:
49 CFR section
Respondent
universe
(railroads)
Total annual
responses
Average
time per
response
Total annual
burden hours
Wage
rate 1
Total cost
equivalent
U.S.D.
(A)
(B)
(C = A * B)
(D = C * wage rates)
220.8 Waivers:
—Petition to Administrator for waiver of compliance
636
2 petition letters
1 hour
2
$79.02
$158.04
220.21 Railroad operating rules; radio communications; recordkeeping:
( printed page 58746)
—(b) Retention of current operating rules, and amendments to these operating rules
The burden for this requirement is included under § 217.7, OMB Control No. 2130-0035.
220.61 Radio transmission of mandatory directives:
—(b)(3) Written copy of mandatory directive
773
3,040,000 directives
90 seconds
76,000
79.02
6,005,520.00
220.302 Operating rules implementing the requirements of this subpart:
—Each railroad shall adopt operating rules that implement the requirements of this subpart for electronic devices
The burden for this requirement is included under § 217.7, OMB Control No. 2130-0035.
220.313 Instruction:
—(a) Written program of instruction and examination on part 220 requirements for new and existing railroads
2
2 written instruction programs
1 hour
2
79.02
158.04
—(c) Employee training records
773
28,000 records
30 seconds
233
79.02
18,438.00
220.315 Operational tests and inspections; further restrictions on use of electronic devices:
—(a) Railroad's program of operational tests and inspections under part 217 shall be revised as necessary to include this subpart
The burden for this requirement is included under § 217.9, OMB Control No. 2130-0035.
Total 2
773
3,068,004 responses
76,237
6,024,274.08
1
The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the 2024 Surface Transportation Board Full Year Wage A&B data series using the employee group 600 (Transportation, Train & Engine) hourly wage rate of $45.16. The total burden wage rate (Straight time plus 75%) used in the table is $79.02 ($45.16 × 1.75 = $79.02).
2
Totals may not add up due to rounding.
Total Estimated Annual Responses:
3,068,004.
Total Estimated Annual Burden:
76,237 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent:
$6,024,274.08.
FRA informs all interested parties that it may not conduct or sponsor, and a respondent is not required to respond to, a collection of information that does not display a currently valid OMB control number.
www.regulations.gov
44 U.S.C. 3501-3520
5 CFR part 1320