Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings
Revision of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
11/26/2025
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
11/30/2025
3,536
3,620
7,232
7,253
5,000
10,000
Under 49 CFR part 222, FRA seeks to collect information from railroads and public authorities in order to increase safety at public highway-rail grade crossings nationwide by requiring that locomotive horns be sounded when trains approach and pass through these crossings or by ensuring that a safety level at least equivalent to that provided by routine locomotive horn sounding exists for quiet zone corridors in which such horn sounding is silenced.
This collection of information is collected as needed and it involves both reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
With this submission, FRA has made program changes and adjustments that decreased the currently approved burden hours from 7,253 to 7,232 hours and decreased the number of responses from 3,620 to 3,536. This decrease in burden, after a thorough review, is the result of the changes described in the sections summarized below:
As noted in question no. 3, FRA published a final rule on July 1, 2025, titled Administrative Updates to the Use of Locomotive Horns at Public Highway-Rail Grade Crossings Regulations. With this final rule, FRA has removed certified mail notification requirements and now allows electronic submittal of applications and notifications to other parties (and requires electronic service for submittals to FRAâs Grade Crossing and Trespasser Outreach Division). The estimated burdens for §§ 222.39, 222.43, 222.47, and 222.51 have been updated accordingly, decreasing burdens by 72 hours.
Under § 222.51(c), which describes the process for reviewing the status of any quiet zone, FRA determined that the burden previously reported for public comments should be excluded because the submission of public comments in response to a Federal Register notice falls outside the PRAâs definition of information under 5 CFR 1320.3(h)(4). Accordingly, FRA is removing the burden previously attributed to public comments from interested parties during FRAâs review of the status of any quiet zone.
Under § 222.55(b) and (d), which describe how interested parties may apply for approval from the Associate Administrator to demonstrate proposed new supplementary or alternative safety measures (SSMs/ASMs), FRA adjusted the burden estimates to reflect the number of hours and estimated average time required to compose the written request, increasing the burden by 40 hours. The increased burden hours reflect additional time needed, after the demonstration of proposed SSMs or ASMs, to gather all the necessary documentation and prepare the written application with the required information that must be included pursuant to § 222.55(d)(1) through (5).
Lastly, under § 222.57(c) (which establishes procedures for how parties can seek reconsideration of an Associate Administrator decision to terminate a quiet zone) and § 222.57(d) (which establishes procedures for railroads to request reconsideration of an Associate Administrator decision to approve an application for approval of a proposed quiet zone), FRA determined that the estimated burden hours were not included in the previously reported burden. Accordingly, FRA has corrected the oversight by adding 9 burden hours.
Overall, program changes and adjustments decreased the total burden hours for this submission by 21 hours.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
November 26, 2025 FR Notice (30-Day).pdf
2130-0560_Locomotive Horns at Grade Crossing SJ (ROCIS).docx
49 CFR Part 222.doc
Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings