Railroads' Joint Request to Amend Their Positive Train Control Safety Plans and Positive Train Control Systems, 46370-46371 [2023-15231]

Download as PDF 46370 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 137 / Wednesday, July 19, 2023 / Notices from the City of Burlington, Iowa, Police Department and costs of FRA-approved glazing on the locomotive. A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications concerning the petition, is available for review online at www.regulations.gov. 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 and a public hearing, 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 and may be submitted at https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Communications received by September 18, 2023 will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be considered if practicable. Anyone can 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 document, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). Under 5 U.S.C. 553(c), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) solicits comments from the public to better inform its processes. DOT posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL– 14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at https://www.transportation.gov/privacy. See also https://www.regulations.gov/ privacy-notice for the privacy notice of regulations.gov. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Issued in Washington, DC. John Karl Alexy, Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer. [FR Doc. 2023–15298 Filed 7–18–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 00:36 Jul 19, 2023 Jkt 259001 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [Docket No. FRA–2010–0028, –0029, –0039, –0042, –0043, –0045, –0048, –0049, –0051, –0054, –0056, –0057, –0058, –0059, –0060, –0061, –0062, –0064, –0065, and –0070] Railroads’ Joint Request to Amend Their Positive Train Control Safety Plans and Positive Train Control Systems Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments. AGENCY: This document provides the public with notice that on June 28, 2023, twenty host railroads submitted a joint request for amendment (RFA) to their FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety Plans (PTCSP). The RFA proposes an alternative to the definition of ‘‘initial terminal.’’ As this joint RFA involves a request for FRA’s approval of a proposed material modification to FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) systems, FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on the railroads’ joint RFA to their PTCSPs. DATES: FRA will consider comments received by August 8, 2023. FRA may consider comments received after that date to the extent practicable and without delaying implementation of valuable or necessary modifications to PTC systems. ADDRESSES: Comments: Comments may be submitted by going to https:// www.regulations.gov and following the online instructions for submitting comments. Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and the applicable docket number. The relevant PTC docket numbers for the host railroads that filed a joint RFA to their PTCSPs are cited above and in the Supplementary Information section of this notice. For convenience, all active PTC dockets are hyperlinked on FRA’s website at https://railroads.dot.gov/ research-development/program-areas/ train-control/ptc/railroads-ptc-dockets. All comments received will be posted without change to https:// www.regulations.gov; this includes any personal information. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gabe Neal, Staff Director, Signal, Train Control, and Crossings Division, telephone: 816–516–7168, email: Gabe.Neal@dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In general, Title 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00244 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Section 20157(h) requires FRA to certify that a host railroad’s PTC system complies with Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 236, subpart I, before the technology may be operated in revenue service. Before making certain changes to an FRA-certified PTC system or the associated FRA-approved PTCSP, a host railroad must submit, and obtain FRA’s approval of, an RFA to its PTCSP under 49 CFR 236.1021. Under 49 CFR 236.1021(e), FRA’s regulations provide that FRA will publish a notice in the Federal Register and invite public comment in accordance with 49 CFR part 211, if an RFA includes a request for approval of a material modification of a signal and train control system. Accordingly, this notice informs the public that the twenty host railroads’ recent, joint RFA to their PTCSPs is available in their respective public PTC dockets, and this notice provides an opportunity for public comment. The RFA proposes an alternative to the definition of ‘‘initial terminal’’ as set forth in 49 CFR 236.829. On June 28, 2023, the following twenty host railroads jointly submitted an RFA to their respective PTCSPs for their Interoperable Electronic Train Management Systems (I–ETMS): Alaska Railroad; The Belt Railway Company of Chicago; BNSF Railway; Caltrain; Canadian National Railway; Canadian Pacific Railway; Consolidated Rail Corporation; CSX Transportation, Inc.; Kansas City Southern Railway; Kansas City Terminal Railway; National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak); New Mexico Rail Runner Express; Norfolk Southern Railway; North County Transit District; Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation (Metra); Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District; South Florida Regional Transportation Authority; Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink); Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis; and Union Pacific Railroad. Their joint RFA is available in Docket Numbers FRA– 2010–0028, –0029, –0039, –0042, –0043, –0045, –0048, –0049, –0051, –0054, –0056, –0057, –0058, –0059, –0060, –0061, –0062, –0064, –0065, and –0070. Interested parties are invited to comment on this RFA by submitting written comments or data. During FRA’s review of these railroads’ joint RFA, FRA will consider any comments or data submitted within the timeline specified in this notice and to the extent practicable, without delaying implementation of valuable or necessary modifications to PTC systems. See 49 CFR 236.1021; see also 49 CFR 236.1011(e). Under 49 CFR 236.1021, E:\FR\FM\19JYN1.SGM 19JYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 137 / Wednesday, July 19, 2023 / Notices FRA maintains the authority to approve, approve with conditions, or deny these railroads’ joint RFA to their PTCSPs at FRA’s sole discretion. Privacy Act Notice In accordance with 49 CFR 211.3, FRA solicits comments from the public to better inform its decisions. DOT posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to https:// www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL– 14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at https://www.transportation.gov/privacy. See https://www.regulations.gov/ privacy-notice for the privacy notice of regulations.gov. To facilitate comment tracking, we encourage commenters to provide their name, or the name of their organization; however, submission of names is completely optional. If you wish to provide comments containing proprietary or confidential information, please contact FRA for alternate submission instructions. Issued in Washington, DC. Carolyn R. Hayward-Williams, Director, Office of Railroad Systems and Technology. [FR Doc. 2023–15231 Filed 7–18–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [Docket Number FRA–2011–0071] ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Petition for Extension of Waiver of Compliance Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this document provides the public notice that by letter dated August 29, 2022, Canadian National Railway Company (CN) petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for an extension of a waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR part 236 (Rules, Standards, and Instructions Governing the Installation, Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair of Signal and Train Control Systems, Devices, and Appliances). The relevant Docket Number is FRA–2011–0071. Specifically, CN requested an extension of relief from § 236.377, Approach locking; § 236.378, Time locking; § 236.379, Route locking; § 236.380, Indication locking; and § 236.281, Traffic locking, to extend the periodic testing schedules from ‘‘at least once every 2 years’’ to ‘‘at least once every 4 years’’ after initial testing has been performed. The relief would apply VerDate Sep<11>2014 00:36 Jul 19, 2023 Jkt 259001 at interlocking control points and other signal locations controlled by solid-state microprocessor-based equipment, all future purchases of microprocessorcontrolled interlocking locations, and all interlocking sites upgraded to microprocessor control. A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications concerning the petition, is available for review online at www.regulations.gov. 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 and a public hearing, 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 and may be submitted at https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Communications received by September 18, 2023 will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be considered if practicable. Anyone can 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 document, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). Under 5 U.S.C. 553(c), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) solicits comments from the public to better inform its processes. DOT posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL– 14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at https://www.transportation.gov/privacy. See also https://www.regulations.gov/ privacy-notice for the privacy notice of regulations.gov. Issued in Washington, DC. John Karl Alexy, Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer. [FR Doc. 2023–15294 Filed 7–18–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P PO 00000 Frm 00245 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 46371 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Operations and Maintenance Facility South Project, King County, Washington Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS). AGENCY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), as lead Federal agency, and the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (Sound Transit), as local project sponsor and joint lead agency, intend to prepare an EIS pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to evaluate the benefits and impacts of the proposed Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF) South project in King County, Washington. DATES: Comments should be submitted by August 18, 2023. FTA will consider comments received after that date to the extent practicable. FTA will consider all comments received during this NEPA scoping period and those previously submitted during the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) scoping process. Commenters who previously provided SEPA scoping comments do not need to resubmit those same comments for consideration under NEPA, but may elect to do so. ADDRESSES: Comments related to the NEPA review of this project must be sent to: OMF South Project, (c/o Erin Green, South Corridor Environmental Manager) Sound Transit, 401 S Jackson Street, Seattle, WA 98104–2826, or by email to OMFSouthScoping@ soundtransit.org. SUMMARY: For FTA: Justin Zweifel, FTA Environmental Protection Specialist, (206) 220–7538 or Justin.Zweifel@ dot.gov. For Sound Transit: Erin Green, Sound Transit Environmental Manager, South Corridor, (206) 398–5464 or Erin.Green@soundtransit.org. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background. In 2016, voters approved funding for Sound Transit 3 (ST3), Sound Transit’s regional system plan that includes 62 new miles of light rail that would contribute to a 116-mile regional system in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. The OMF South project would provide a facility in the South Corridor of the system to receive, test, commission, store, maintain, and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: E:\FR\FM\19JYN1.SGM 19JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46370-46371]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15231]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2010-0028, -0029, -0039, -0042, -0043, -0045, -0048, -
0049, -0051, -0054, -0056, -0057, -0058, -0059, -0060, -0061, -0062, -
0064, -0065, and -0070]


Railroads' Joint Request to Amend Their Positive Train Control 
Safety Plans and Positive Train Control Systems

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: This document provides the public with notice that on June 28, 
2023, twenty host railroads submitted a joint request for amendment 
(RFA) to their FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety Plans 
(PTCSP). The RFA proposes an alternative to the definition of ``initial 
terminal.'' As this joint RFA involves a request for FRA's approval of 
a proposed material modification to FRA-certified positive train 
control (PTC) systems, FRA is publishing this notice and inviting 
public comment on the railroads' joint RFA to their PTCSPs.

DATES: FRA will consider comments received by August 8, 2023. FRA may 
consider comments received after that date to the extent practicable 
and without delaying implementation of valuable or necessary 
modifications to PTC systems.

ADDRESSES: 
    Comments: Comments may be submitted by going to https://www.regulations.gov and following the online instructions for 
submitting comments.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and the 
applicable docket number. The relevant PTC docket numbers for the host 
railroads that filed a joint RFA to their PTCSPs are cited above and in 
the Supplementary Information section of this notice. For convenience, 
all active PTC dockets are hyperlinked on FRA's website at https://railroads.dot.gov/research-development/program-areas/train-control/ptc/railroads-ptc-dockets. All comments received will be posted without 
change to https://www.regulations.gov; this includes any personal 
information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gabe Neal, Staff Director, Signal, 
Train Control, and Crossings Division, telephone: 816-516-7168, email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In general, Title 49 United States Code 
(U.S.C.) Section 20157(h) requires FRA to certify that a host 
railroad's PTC system complies with Title 49 Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) part 236, subpart I, before the technology may be 
operated in revenue service. Before making certain changes to an FRA-
certified PTC system or the associated FRA-approved PTCSP, a host 
railroad must submit, and obtain FRA's approval of, an RFA to its PTCSP 
under 49 CFR 236.1021.
    Under 49 CFR 236.1021(e), FRA's regulations provide that FRA will 
publish a notice in the Federal Register and invite public comment in 
accordance with 49 CFR part 211, if an RFA includes a request for 
approval of a material modification of a signal and train control 
system. Accordingly, this notice informs the public that the twenty 
host railroads' recent, joint RFA to their PTCSPs is available in their 
respective public PTC dockets, and this notice provides an opportunity 
for public comment. The RFA proposes an alternative to the definition 
of ``initial terminal'' as set forth in 49 CFR 236.829.
    On June 28, 2023, the following twenty host railroads jointly 
submitted an RFA to their respective PTCSPs for their Interoperable 
Electronic Train Management Systems (I-ETMS): Alaska Railroad; The Belt 
Railway Company of Chicago; BNSF Railway; Caltrain; Canadian National 
Railway; Canadian Pacific Railway; Consolidated Rail Corporation; CSX 
Transportation, Inc.; Kansas City Southern Railway; Kansas City 
Terminal Railway; National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak); New 
Mexico Rail Runner Express; Norfolk Southern Railway; North County 
Transit District; Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad 
Corporation (Metra); Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District; 
South Florida Regional Transportation Authority; Southern California 
Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink); Terminal Railroad Association of 
St. Louis; and Union Pacific Railroad. Their joint RFA is available in 
Docket Numbers FRA-2010-0028, -0029, -0039, -0042, -0043, -0045, -0048, 
-0049, -0051, -0054, -0056, -0057, -0058, -0059, -0060, -0061, -0062, -
0064, -0065, and -0070. Interested parties are invited to comment on 
this RFA by submitting written comments or data. During FRA's review of 
these railroads' joint RFA, FRA will consider any comments or data 
submitted within the timeline specified in this notice and to the 
extent practicable, without delaying implementation of valuable or 
necessary modifications to PTC systems. See 49 CFR 236.1021; see also 
49 CFR 236.1011(e). Under 49 CFR 236.1021,

[[Page 46371]]

FRA maintains the authority to approve, approve with conditions, or 
deny these railroads' joint RFA to their PTCSPs at FRA's sole 
discretion.

Privacy Act Notice

    In accordance with 49 CFR 211.3, FRA solicits comments from the 
public to better inform its decisions. DOT posts these comments, 
without edit, including any personal information the commenter 
provides, to https://www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of 
records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at https://www.transportation.gov/privacy. See https://www.regulations.gov/privacy-notice for the privacy notice of regulations.gov. To facilitate 
comment tracking, we encourage commenters to provide their name, or the 
name of their organization; however, submission of names is completely 
optional. If you wish to provide comments containing proprietary or 
confidential information, please contact FRA for alternate submission 
instructions.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
Carolyn R. Hayward-Williams,
Director, Office of Railroad Systems and Technology.
[FR Doc. 2023-15231 Filed 7-18-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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