
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 224 (Monday, November 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 83329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27952]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2008-0010]


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    In accordance with part 211 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR), this provides the public notice that by a document 
dated October 20, 2016, Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART) 
requests a rescission of its existing waiver in Docket Number FRA-2008-
0010.
    In a April 3, 2009 decision letter, the Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA) approved SMART's application for discontinuance 
and removal of the interlocking signal system on three drawbridges 
located on the former Northwestern Pacific Railroad. Among these three 
was the Haystack Landing Drawbridge over the Petaluma River at milepost 
(MP) 37.2. SMART is now requesting that the conditions of this relief 
be changed in order to facilitate the establishment of commuter rail 
operations on the entire mainline of the former Northwestern Pacific 
Railroad (NWP). This line is owned by SMART, has has been rebuilt to 
Class IV track standards, has been equipped with an Automatic Train 
Control (ATC) system meeting the requirements of 49 CFR part 236, and 
the deteriorated former swing span has been demolished and replaced 
with a newly rebuilt single-leaf bascule bridge meeting modern 
standards. The ATC system is interlocked with the new Haystack Landing 
Drawbridge and its approaches, including a complete surface alignment 
and locking detection system, which is compliant with 49 CFR 236.312. 
This system is interlocked with the new Control Point at Hopper South, 
formerly known as Petaluma South, which will enforce speeds of 50 mph 
for passenger trains and 40 mph for freight trains over the bridge when 
it is properly lined and locked. SMART notes that the conditions of the 
waiver in Docket Number FRA-2008-0010 shall remain in effect on the 
other two drawbridges. Those locations are the Brazos Drawbridge at MP 
64.7; and the Black Point Drawbridge at MP 28.
    A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications 
concerning the petition, is available for review online at 
www.regulations.gov and in person at the Department of Transportation's 
Docket Operations Facility, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., W12-140, 
Washington, DC 20590. The Docket Operations Facility is open from 9 
a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.
    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 and may be submitted by any of the following 
methods:
     Web site: http://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 by December 21, 2016 will be considered by 
FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date 
will be considered as far as practicable.
    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 document, 
if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), 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 www.dot.gov/privacy. 
See also https://www.regulations.gov/privacyNotice for the privacy 
notice of regulations.gov.

Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-27952 Filed 11-18-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


