Track Safety Standards; Concrete Crossties

This document delays the effectiveness of the final rule, which mandates specific requirements for effective concrete crossties, for rail fastening systems connected to concrete crossties, and for automated inspections of track constructed with concrete crossties. The Track Safety Standards were amended via final rule on April 1, 2011, and the final rule was scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2011. FRA received two petitions for reconsideration in response to the final rule that contain substantive issues requiring a detailed response. Accordingly, in order to fully respond to the petitions for reconsideration, this document delays the effective date of the final rule until October 1, 2011.