Notice of Petition for Extension of Special Approval
This document provides the public notice that the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration MARC Train Service (MACZ), petitioned FRA to extend a spe...
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION:
Notice.
SUMMARY:
This document provides the public notice that the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration MARC Train Service (MACZ), petitioned FRA to extend a special approval of an alternate standard for periodic brake equipment maintenance.
DATES:
FRA must receive comments on the petition by December 21, 2026. FRA will consider comments received after that date to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES:
Comments:
Comments related to this docket may be submitted by going to
www.regulations.gov
and following the online instructions for submitting comments.
Instructions:
All submissions must include the agency name and docket number. All comments received will be posted without change to
www.regulations.gov;
this includes any personal information. Please see the Privacy Act heading in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section of this document for Privacy Act information related to any submitted comments or materials.
Docket:
For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to
www.regulations.gov
and follow the online instructions for accessing the docket.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steven Zuiderveen, Railroad Safety Specialist, FRA Motive Power & Equipment Division, telephone: 202-493-6337, email:
steven.zuiderveen@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this document provides the public notice that by letter dated April 27, 2026, MACZ petitioned FRA for an extension of a special approval of an alternate standard for periodic brake equipment maintenance per 49 CFR parts 229 (Railroad Locomotive Safety Standards) and 238 (Passenger Equipment Safety Standards). The relevant Docket Number is FRA-2008-0065.
Specifically, MACZ requests approval to continue applying alternate standards for the CCB-KE-3.9 air brake system of the MARC HHP-8 locomotive fleet. This alternate standard to 49 CFR 229.29(e),
Air brake system calibration, maintenance, and testing,
and 238.309(a)(2),
Periodic brake equipment maintenance—General,
allows for an increase in the level two and level three maintenance intervals to 2,944 days (8 years). MACZ explains that it continues
( printed page 66388)
to maintain the air brake systems in accordance with the existing conditions of relief in this docket, and that it has realized a high level of reliability with the air brake system. Further, MACZ indicates that the locomotives are expected to continue in passenger service for MACZ, operated and maintained by Amtrak on the Northeast Corridor, for the foreseeable future.
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 December 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
www.transportation.gov/privacy.
See also
www.regulations.gov/privacy-notice
for the privacy notice of
regulations.gov.
Issued in Washington, DC.
John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
Use this for formal legal and research references to the published document.
91 FR 66387
Web Citation
Suggested Web Citation
Use this when citing the archival web version of the document.
“Notice of Petition for Extension of Special Approval,” thefederalregister.org (October 20, 2026), https://thefederalregister.org/documents/2026-21448/notice-of-petition-for-extension-of-special-approval.
www.regulations.gov
part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations
5 U.S.C. 553(c)
www.transportation.gov/privacy