Federal Register #FRA20110048

FRA Notice: Petitions for Extension of Regulatory Waivers by TriMet, Amtrak, and HRRC

This notice from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) addresses petitions for extensions of regulatory waivers from several rail operators: - Government Buyer: - Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), U.S. Department of Transportation - Petitioners and Context: - Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) requests continued exemption from: - 49 CFR part 219 (Control of Alcohol and Drug Use) - 49 CFR 229.125(d)(2) (Headlights and auxiliary lights) - Applies to the Orange Line, a 7.3-mile rapid transit line in Portland, Oregon, sharing corridors with Union Pacific Railroad and Pacific & Western Railroad - Amtrak seeks extension of relief for ECP brake system maintenance intervals on Amfleet I coach cars - The Housatonic Railroad Company (HRRC) requests relief from hours of service laws for train employees - Products/Services Requested: - No products or equipment are being procured; the notice concerns regulatory waivers for operational practices - Unique/Notable Requirements: - TriMet's request is based on a unified drug and alcohol program for all employees and the use of auxiliary lights deemed equivalent to federal requirements - Amtrak's waiver involves modifications to brake system maintenance and reporting - HRRC's waiver would allow more flexible employee scheduling - No OEMs or commercial vendors are mentioned or solicited in this notice - Public comments on these petitions are invited

Description

This notice provides public information that the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) has petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for an extension of relief from certain federal railroad safety regulations related to its shared use property. The petition requests extended relief from all of 49 CFR part 219 (Control of Alcohol and Drug Use) and from 49 CFR 229.125(d)(2) concerning headlights and auxiliary lights for its Orange Line, a 7.3-mile urban rapid transit line. The notice invites interested parties to submit comments by July 21, 2026, which FRA will consider before final action. The petition and related communications are available for review online at regulations.gov.

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