Notice2026-06198
Notice of Petition for Special Approval of Alternative Standard
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
March 31, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Abstract
This document provides the public notice that IS Technology Solutions (IS Tech) petitioned FRA for special approval of an alternative standard concerning single car air brake tests.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 61 (Tuesday, March 31, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 61 (Tuesday, March 31, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16080-16081]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-06198]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA-2025-1149]
Notice of Petition for Special Approval of Alternative Standard
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This document provides the public notice that IS Technology
Solutions (IS Tech) petitioned FRA for special approval of an
alternative standard concerning single car air brake tests.
DATES: FRA must receive comments on the petition by April 30, 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 <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and following the online instructions
for submitting comments.
Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and
docket
[[Page 16081]]
number. All comments received will be posted without change to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>; 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 <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and follow the
online instructions for accessing the docket.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Derrick Griffith, Railroad Safety
Specialist, FRA Motive Power & Equipment Division, telephone: 202-493-
6322, email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#64000116160d070f4a03160d02020d100c24000b104a030b12"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="92f6f7e0e0fbf1f9bcf5e0fbf4f4fbe6fad2f6fde6bcf5fde4">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR), this document provides the public notice that by
letter received December 22, 2026, IS Tech petitioned FRA for special
approval of an alternative standard for certain provisions of the
Federal railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR part 238
(Passenger Equipment Safety Standards). FRA assigned the petition
Docket Number FRA-2025-1149.
Specifically, IS Tech seeks special approval to use an automatic
signal car testing device (ASCTD) in lieu of a manual single car
testing device (MSCTD) as an alternate standard for compliance with
Sec. 238.311, Single car test. Further, IS Tech proposes an annual
calibration of the ASCTD instead of calibration every 92 days of the
MSCTD.
In its petition, IS Tech states that ASCTDs have been used for
``several years as a faster and more accurate alternative'' to MSCTDs.
IS Tech explains that the subject device has additional hardware,
functionalities, and programming for testing of passenger cars but is
based on the AAR S-4027 specification for testing of freight cars.
A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications
concerning the petition, is available for review online at
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>.
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 30, 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 <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>, as
described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can
be reviewed at <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/privacy">https://www.transportation.gov/privacy</a>. See also <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/privacy-notice">https://www.regulations.gov/privacy-notice</a> for the privacy notice of
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>.
Issued in Washington, DC.
John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety,Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2026-06198 Filed 3-30-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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