STB sets new class exemption for emergency temporary trackage rights

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) yesterday announced that it has adopted a final rule establishing a new class exemption for emergency temporary trackage rights.

The final rule eliminates the 30-day notice period in certain circumstances, speeding up the process for authorizing trackage rights in response to an unforeseen track outages, STB officials said in a press release.

In October, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) petitioned the board to establish a new class exemption for specific limited situations that would allow emergency temporary trackage rights to take effect within five days of filing without requiring a waiver of the 30-day notice requirement.

After considering the AAR's petition and the responsive comments, the STB on May 28 issued a notice of proposed rulemaking.

The board adopted the final rule, which can be read here, as proposed and without modification.