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This rulemaking would address the potential safety impact of one-person train operations, including appropriate measures to mitigate an accident's impact and severity, and the patchwork of State laws concerning minimum crew staffing requirements. This rulemaking would address the issue of minimum requirements for the size of different train crew staffs, depending on the type of operations.

Statement of Need:

To address the potential safety impact of one-person train operations, including appropriate measures to mitigate an accident's impact and severity, and the patchwork of State laws concerning minimum crew staffing requirements, FRA is drafting an NPRM that would address the issue of minimum requirements for the size of different train crew staffs, depending on the type of operation.

Summary of the Legal Basis:

49 USC 20103; 49 CFR 1.89(a)

Alternatives:

FRA will analyze regulatory alternatives in the NPRM.

Anticipated Costs and Benefits:

FRA is currently expecting the economic impact of this rule is expected to be less than $100 million; however, FRA has not yet quantified the costs or benefits associated with this proposed rulemaking.

Risks:

The NPRM is based off a risk assessment that individual railroads will have to perform. The risks should be negatively impacted.