Railroads' Joint Request To Amend Their Positive Train Control Safety Plans and Positive Train Control Systems, 61229 [2024-16750]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 146 / Tuesday, July 30, 2024 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [Docket No. FRA–2010–0039, –2010–0045, –2010–0051, –2010–0056, and –2010–0060] 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 July 11, 2024, five host railroads submitted a joint request for amendment (RFA) to their FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety Plans (PTCSP). As this joint RFA may involve requests for FRA’s approval of proposed material modifications to FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) systems, FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on railroads’ joint RFA to their PTCSPs. DATES: FRA will consider comments received by August 19, 2024. 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.) Section 20157(h) requires FRA to certify that a host railroad’s PTC system complies with Title 49 Code of Federal khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:51 Jul 29, 2024 Jkt 262001 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 or train control system. Accordingly, this notice informs the public that the five host railroads listed below recently filed a joint RFA to their PTCSPs, which is available in their respective public PTC dockets, and this notice provides an opportunity for public comment. Specifically, on July 11, 2024, the following five host railroads jointly submitted an RFA to their respective PTCSPs for their Interoperable Electronic Train Management Systems (I–ETMS): BNSF Railway, Caltrain, New Mexico Rail Runner Express, Norfolk Southern Railway Company, and South Florida Regional Transportation Authority. This RFA includes a proposed process for emergencies that would affect a significant portion or the entire fleet of these railroads’ PTCequipped trains. Their joint RFA is available in Docket Numbers FRA– 2010–0039, –2010–0045, –2010–0051, –2010–0056, and –2010–0060. 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, 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 PO 00000 Frm 00172 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 61229 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. 2024–16750 Filed 7–29–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [Docket No. FRA–2024–0026] Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment. AGENCY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below. Before submitting this ICR to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified in the ICR. DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before September 30, 2024. ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR should be submitted on regulations.gov to the docket, Docket No. FRA–2024– 0026. All comments received will be posted without change to the docket, including any personal information provided. Please refer to the assigned OMB control number (2130–New) in any correspondence submitted. FRA will summarize comments received in a subsequent 30-day notice and include them in its information collection submission to OMB. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Arlette Mussington, Information Collection Clearance Officer, at email: arlette.mussington@dot.gov or telephone: (571) 609–1285 or Ms. Joanne Swafford, Information Collection Clearance Officer, at email: joanne.swafford@dot.gov or telephone: (757) 897–9908. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\30JYN1.SGM 30JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 146 (Tuesday, July 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 61229]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-16750]



[[Page 61229]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2010-0039, -2010-0045, -2010-0051, -2010-0056, and -
2010-0060]


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 July 11, 
2024, five host railroads submitted a joint request for amendment (RFA) 
to their FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety Plans (PTCSP). As 
this joint RFA may involve requests for FRA's approval of proposed 
material modifications to FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) 
systems, FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on 
railroads' joint RFA to their PTCSPs.

DATES: FRA will consider comments received by August 19, 2024. 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 or train control 
system. Accordingly, this notice informs the public that the five host 
railroads listed below recently filed a joint RFA to their PTCSPs, 
which is available in their respective public PTC dockets, and this 
notice provides an opportunity for public comment.
    Specifically, on July 11, 2024, the following five host railroads 
jointly submitted an RFA to their respective PTCSPs for their 
Interoperable Electronic Train Management Systems (I-ETMS): BNSF 
Railway, Caltrain, New Mexico Rail Runner Express, Norfolk Southern 
Railway Company, and South Florida Regional Transportation Authority. 
This RFA includes a proposed process for emergencies that would affect 
a significant portion or the entire fleet of these railroads' PTC-
equipped trains. Their joint RFA is available in Docket Numbers FRA-
2010-0039, -2010-0045, -2010-0051, -2010-0056, and -2010-0060. 
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, 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. 2024-16750 Filed 7-29-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.