The grade crossing inventory, used by States and railroads, reports changes to or closings of grade crossings to update or add to the existing National Inventory File. Previously, railroads and States submitted this information voluntarily. The final rule -- and associated information collection -- requires railroads that operate one or more trains through highway-rail or pathway crossings to submit information to the U.S. DOT National Highway-Rail Crossing Inventory about the crossings through which they operate. These amendments, mandated by section 204 of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, require railroads to submit information about previously unreported and new highway-rail and pathway crossings to the U.S. DOT National Highway-Rail Crossing Inventory and to periodically update existing crossing data.
This ICR submission is an extension without change (with changes in estimates) to a current collection of information.
With this submission, FRA made multiple adjustments to its estimates that increased the previously approved burden hours from 8,663 to 9,857 hours and decreased the number of responses from 421,758 to 225,145. This burden increase is the result of changes described in the sections summarized below.
Under § 234.403, which describes the submission of Crossing Inventory data, generally, FRA adjusted the burden estimates to reflect the estimated number of hours and average time more accurately per response, resulting in an increase of 1,490 hours. FRA anticipates that this estimate change will accurately reflect submissions for the next three-year reporting period.
Under § 234.405, which describes the process to submit initial data to the Crossing Inventory for previously unreported crossings, FRA decreased the estimated burden by 57 hours. These regulations have been in effect since June 2016, and railroads have been submitting crossing data to the Crossing Inventory for previously unreported crossings since that time. Based on crossing data submitted to the Crossing Inventory during the previous three-year reporting period, FRA does not anticipate any initial submission of crossing data for previously unreported crossings.
Under § 234.411, which describes the type of changes requiring submission of updated information to the Crossing Inventory, FRA adjusted the burden estimates to more accurately reflect the number of railroads that have reported a crossing sale or closure over the past three years, and the average response time, decreasing the burden estimate by 81 hours.
Lastly, under § 234.413, which describes railroad recordkeeping requirements, FRA made multiple adjustments. FRA decreased the burden hours by 158 hours to more accurately reflect the number of records that must be kept and maintained. This reduction is the result of a significant decrease in the number of annual responses. FRA also increased the burden hours by 54 hours to more accurately reflect the burden associated with maintaining lists of locations where copies of records required by this subpart may be accessed and copied.
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.
Form FRA F 6180.71 U.S. DOT Crossing Inventory Form
December 18, 2025 FR Notice (30-Day).pdf
2130-0017 Crossing Inventory SJ (ROCIS)12-19-2025.docx
P.L. 110-432 (Sec. 204).doc
U.S. DOT Crossing Inventory Form