Notice of Application for Approval of Discontinuance or Modification of a Railroad Signal System or Relief From the Requirements of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 236, 27021-27022 [E8-10478]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 92 / Monday, May 12, 2008 / Notices instructions for submitting comments on the DOT electronic site; • Fax: 202–493–2251; • Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC 20590; or • Hand Delivery: Room W12–140 of the U.S. Department of Transportation West Building Ground Floor, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Communications received within 45 days of the date of this notice will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be considered as far as practicable. All written communications concerning these proceedings are available for examination during regular business hours (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) at the above facility. All documents in the public docket are also available for inspection and copying on the Internet at the docket facility’s Web site at https://www.regulations.gov. FRA wishes to inform all potential commenters that anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477– 78) or you may visit https:// www.regulations.gov. Issued in Washington, DC on May 6, 2008. Grady C. Cothen, Jr., Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program Development. [FR Doc. E8–10473 Filed 5–9–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES Notice of Application for Approval of Discontinuance or Modification of a Railroad Signal System or Relief From the Requirements of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 236 Pursuant to Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 235 and 49 U.S.C. 20502(a), the following railroad has petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) seeking approval for the discontinuance or modification of the signal system or relief from the requirements of 49 CFR part 236 as detailed below. VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:54 May 09, 2008 Jkt 214001 Docket Number FRA–2008–0051 Applicant: Utah Transit Authority, Ms. Jennifer Rigby, General Counsel, 3600 South 700 West, P.O. Box 30810, Salt Lake City, Utah 84130. The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) seeks relief from the requirements of the Rules, Standards, and Instructions, 49 CFR part 236, Section 236.513(a), Audible indicator, for its planned commuter rail system ‘‘FrontRunner,’’ to the extent that UTA be permitted to utilize a cab signal system that does not contain any onboard acknowledgment device beyond the acknowledgment received from movement of brake control(s). The location of the request is the entire current and planned FrontRunner system. Phase one will be approximately 44 miles between Pleasant View, in Weber County, and Salt Lake City, Utah. Applicant’s justification for relief: (1) The installed cab signal system enforces the speed limit of the detected cab signal by first warning of, and if no action is taken, then immediately requesting an irrevocable penalty brake application when the vehicle speed is detected as being at or over the speed limit plus a pre-determined buffer. (2) In the case of a cab signal aspect downgrade and the vehicle speed is above the new downgrade speed limit, the operator must, through his action, bring the vehicle speed to the new speed limit in accordance with prescribed parameters of the FrontRunner Timetable. If the operator fails to act accordingly to reduce the train’s speed to the required limit, an alarm sounds continuously to warn of a pending penalty brake application. If there is no or insufficient action taken by the train operator to reduce the speed to the acceptable threshold within 4 seconds, an irrevocable penalty brake application is applied. (3) In the case of a cab signal aspect downgrade and the vehicle speed is already below the new downgrade speed limit, the operator is only required to keep the vehicle speed below the new speed limit. In either case, the cab signal system sounds a momentary audible alarm to indicate that the cab signal aspect has changed. If there is no or insufficient action taken by the train operator to reduce the speed to the acceptable threshold within 4 seconds, an irrevocable penalty brake application is applied. (4) In the case of no cab signal downgrade but the vehicle speed increases to a value above the speed limit plus the pre-determined buffer, the cab signal system requests an PO 00000 Frm 00067 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 27021 immediate, irrevocable, penalty brake application. Interested parties are invited to participate in these proceedings by submitting written views, data, or comments. FRA does not anticipate scheduling a public hearing in connection with these proceedings since the facts do not appear to warrant a hearing. If any interested party desires an opportunity for oral comment, they should notify FRA, in writing, before the end of the comment period and specify the basis for their request. Any interested party desiring to protest the granting of an application shall set forth specifically the grounds upon which the protest is made, and it shall contain a concise statement of the interest of the party in the proceeding. Additionally, one copy of the protest shall be furnished to the applicant at the address listed above. All communications concerning these proceedings should be identified by Docket Number FRA–2008–0051and may be submitted by any of the following methods: • Web site: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. • Fax: 202–493–2251. • Mail: Docket Operations Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., W12–140, Washington, DC 20590. • Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room W12–140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. Communications received within 45 days of the date of this notice will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be considered as far as practicable. All written communications concerning these proceedings are available for examination during regular business hours (9 a.m.–5 p.m.) at the above facility. All documents in the public docket are also available for inspection and copying on the Internet at the docket facility’s Web site at https://www.regulations.gov. Anyone is able to search the electronic form of any written communications and comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477–78). E:\FR\FM\12MYN1.SGM 12MYN1 27022 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 92 / Monday, May 12, 2008 / Notices Issued in Washington, DC on May 6, 2008. Grady C. Cothen, Jr., Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program Development. [FR Doc. E8–10478 Filed 5–9–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration Petition for Waiver of Compliance In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), notice is hereby given that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) received a request for a waiver of compliance with certain requirements of its safety standards. The individual petition is described below, including the party seeking relief, the regulatory provisions involved, the nature of the relief being requested, and the petitioner’s arguments in favor of relief. rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES Northeast Illinois Railroad Corporation (Waiver Petition Docket Number FRA– 2008–0019) The Northeast Illinois Railroad Corporation (Metra), a commuter passenger railroad, seeks a waiver of compliance from the requirements of 49 CFR 223.9 Requirements for new or rebuilt equipment for Two highway capable vehicles/locomotives. Specifically, Metra petitioned FRA for a waiver from compliance for two hi-rail locomotive vehicles manufactured by Brandt Road Rail Corporation, numbers 05008 and 05009. These vehicles would be utilized to move stranded passenger trains during a rescue operation. Metra operates a commuter railroad in the six northeast counties of Illinois, surrounding the city of Chicago. There are approximately 787 daily trains over twelve separate line segments, with a fleet of 142 locomotives, 173 MU locomotives, and 822 cab control/trailer cars. The petitioner believes that these Brandt hi-rail vehicles/locomotives can be safely operated with the current noncompliant shatter resistant safety-type glazing. If compliant FRA Types II glazing were installed in these vehicles in the drivers and passenger doors, the side facing windows could not roll down when needed, thus becoming stationary. Metra intends to install compliant FRA Type I glazing in the front windshield and rear facing window on these vehicles. Interested parties are invited to participate in these proceedings by submitting written views, data, or comments. FRA does not anticipate VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:54 May 09, 2008 Jkt 214001 scheduling a public hearing in connection with these proceedings since the facts do not appear to warrant a hearing. If any interested party desires an opportunity for oral comment, they should notify FRA, in writing, before the end of the comment period and specify the basis for their request. All communications concerning these proceedings should identify the appropriate docket number (e.g., Waiver Petition Docket Number FRA–2008– 0019) and may be submitted by any of the following methods: • Web site: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. • Fax: 202–493–2251. • Mail: Docket Operations Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., W12–140, Washington, DC 20590. • Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room W12–140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. Communications received within 45 days of the date of this notice will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be considered as far as practicable. All written communications concerning these proceedings are available for examination during regular business hours (9 a.m.–5 p.m.) at the above facility. All documents in the public docket are also available for inspection and copying on the Internet at the docket facility’s Web site at https://www.regulations.gov. Anyone is able to search the electronic form of any written communications and comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477–78). Issued in Washington, DC on May 6, 2008. Grady C. Cothen, Jr., Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program Development. [FR Doc. E8–10471 Filed 5–9–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration Petition for Waiver of Compliance In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), PO 00000 Frm 00068 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 notice is hereby given that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has received a request for a waiver of compliance from certain requirements of its safety standards. The individual petition is described below, including the party seeking relief, the regulatory provisions involved, the nature of the relief being requested, and the petitioner’s arguments in favor of relief. Twin Cities and Western Railroad (Docket Number FRA–2006–26093) The Twin Cities and Western Railroad (TC&W) seeks to amend its current waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Railroad Safety Appliance Standards, 49 CFR Part 231, and the Railroad Power Brakes and Drawbars Regulations, 49 CFR Part 232, concerning RailRunner train operations over their system. Specifically, TC&W requests authority to operate RailRunner equipment behind mixed freight conventional railcars and behind Trailer On Flat Car/ Container On Flat Car (TOFC/COFC) intermodal trains. The current waiver to operate RailRunner equipment was granted to TC&W on March 15, 2007. Since the granting of the existing waiver, there have been no accidents, incidents, or injury to personnel reported to the FRA involving TC&W operating RailRunner equipment. For conventional mixed freight trains, TC&W will restrict RailRunner units per train to a maximum of 50 with a maximum trailing tonnage of 1,500 tons. For TOFC/COFC trains, TC&W will restrict RailRunner units per train to a maximum of 50 with a maximum trailing tonnage of 1,000 tons. Interested parties are invited to participate in these proceedings by submitting written views, data, or comments. FRA does not anticipate scheduling a public hearing in connection with these proceedings since the facts do not appear to warrant a hearing. If any interested party desires an opportunity for oral comment, they should notify FRA, in writing, before the end of the comment period and specify the basis for their request. All communications concerning these proceedings should identify the appropriate docket number (e.g., Waiver Petition Docket Number FRA–2006– 26093) and may be submitted by any of the following methods: Web site: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Fax: 202–493–2251. Mail: Docket Operations Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 E:\FR\FM\12MYN1.SGM 12MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 92 (Monday, May 12, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27021-27022]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-10478]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Notice of Application for Approval of Discontinuance or 
Modification of a Railroad Signal System or Relief From the 
Requirements of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 236

    Pursuant to Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 235 and 
49 U.S.C. 20502(a), the following railroad has petitioned the Federal 
Railroad Administration (FRA) seeking approval for the discontinuance 
or modification of the signal system or relief from the requirements of 
49 CFR part 236 as detailed below.

Docket Number FRA-2008-0051

    Applicant: Utah Transit Authority, Ms. Jennifer Rigby, General 
Counsel, 3600 South 700 West, P.O. Box 30810, Salt Lake City, Utah 
84130.
    The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) seeks relief from the requirements 
of the Rules, Standards, and Instructions, 49 CFR part 236, Section 
236.513(a), Audible indicator, for its planned commuter rail system 
``FrontRunner,'' to the extent that UTA be permitted to utilize a cab 
signal system that does not contain any onboard acknowledgment device 
beyond the acknowledgment received from movement of brake control(s). 
The location of the request is the entire current and planned 
FrontRunner system. Phase one will be approximately 44 miles between 
Pleasant View, in Weber County, and Salt Lake City, Utah.
    Applicant's justification for relief:
    (1) The installed cab signal system enforces the speed limit of the 
detected cab signal by first warning of, and if no action is taken, 
then immediately requesting an irrevocable penalty brake application 
when the vehicle speed is detected as being at or over the speed limit 
plus a pre-determined buffer.
    (2) In the case of a cab signal aspect downgrade and the vehicle 
speed is above the new downgrade speed limit, the operator must, 
through his action, bring the vehicle speed to the new speed limit in 
accordance with prescribed parameters of the FrontRunner Timetable. If 
the operator fails to act accordingly to reduce the train's speed to 
the required limit, an alarm sounds continuously to warn of a pending 
penalty brake application. If there is no or insufficient action taken 
by the train operator to reduce the speed to the acceptable threshold 
within 4 seconds, an irrevocable penalty brake application is applied.
    (3) In the case of a cab signal aspect downgrade and the vehicle 
speed is already below the new downgrade speed limit, the operator is 
only required to keep the vehicle speed below the new speed limit. In 
either case, the cab signal system sounds a momentary audible alarm to 
indicate that the cab signal aspect has changed. If there is no or 
insufficient action taken by the train operator to reduce the speed to 
the acceptable threshold within 4 seconds, an irrevocable penalty brake 
application is applied.
    (4) In the case of no cab signal downgrade but the vehicle speed 
increases to a value above the speed limit plus the pre-determined 
buffer, the cab signal system requests an immediate, irrevocable, 
penalty brake application.
    Interested parties are invited to participate in these proceedings 
by submitting written views, data, or comments. FRA does not anticipate 
scheduling a public hearing in connection with these proceedings since 
the facts do not appear to warrant a hearing. If any interested party 
desires an opportunity for oral comment, they should notify FRA, in 
writing, before the end of the comment period and specify the basis for 
their request.
    Any interested party desiring to protest the granting of an 
application shall set forth specifically the grounds upon which the 
protest is made, and it shall contain a concise statement of the 
interest of the party in the proceeding. Additionally, one copy of the 
protest shall be furnished to the applicant at the address listed 
above.
    All communications concerning these proceedings should be 
identified by Docket Number FRA-2008-0051and may be submitted by any of 
the following methods:
     Web site: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Operations Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., W12-140, Washington, DC 
20590.
     Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room W12-140, 
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal Holidays.
    Communications received within 45 days of the date of this notice 
will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments 
received after that date will be considered as far as practicable. All 
written communications concerning these proceedings are available for 
examination during regular business hours (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) at the above 
facility. All documents in the public docket are also available for 
inspection and copying on the Internet at the docket facility's Web 
site at https://www.regulations.gov.
    Anyone is able to search the electronic form of any written 
communications and comments received into any of our dockets by the 
name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, 
if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 
Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 
19477-78).


[[Page 27022]]


    Issued in Washington, DC on May 6, 2008.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program 
Development.
[FR Doc. E8-10478 Filed 5-9-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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