
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 115 (Friday, June 14, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36013-36014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14090]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2013-0055]


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR), this document provides the public notice that by a document 
dated May 16, 2013, the Commuter Rail Division of the Regional 
Transportation Authority (Metra) and its operating company, the 
Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation, have 
petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for 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. 
FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2013-0055.
    Metra seeks a waiver from the requirements 49 CFR 236.566, 
Locomotive of each train operating in train stop, train control or cab 
signal territory; equipped. Specifically, Metra seeks FRA's approval to 
operate equipped Metra Heritage Corridor District (HCD) trains on 
Metra's Rock Island District (RID) from Joliet Coach Yard at Control 
Point (CP) Richards, Milepost (MP) 39.9 to the switch at the wye at UD 
Tower, MP 40.1 with the cab signals cut out.
    This petition for waiver is requested because HCD trains are 
positioned overnight at the Joliet Coach Yard on the RID. The RID 
automatic cab signal (ACS) territory begins at Joliet, MP 40.2, and 
ends at Blue Island, MP 14.5. Metra's HCD trains operate on nonequipped 
territory, which begins in

[[Page 36014]]

Joliet, MP 37.3, and ends at Chicago Union Station, MP 0.0. The 
affected trains would operate out of Joliet Yard with cab signals cut 
out for 1,100 feet up to the wye at UD Tower. To operate with cab 
signals on HCD trains would require Metra to train approximately 20 
engineers on cab signal indications. In order for Metra to test HCD 
trains, a test loop would need to be installed at Joliet for trains 
operating in equipped territory less than 1,100 feet. Metra proposes 
that movement between CP Richards and the wye at UD Tower for HCD 
trains with the cab signals cut out will be made with an absolute block 
established in advance of all HCD trains. Additionally, the HCD trains 
movements will be made at restricted speed across the equipped 
territory.
    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 U.S. Department of 
Transportation's Docket Operations Facility, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
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 July 29, 2013 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.). 
See http://www.regulations.gov/#!privacyNotice for the privacy notice 
of regulations.gov or interested parties may review DOT's complete 
Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 
2000 (65 FR 19477).

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 10, 2013.
Robert C. Lauby,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Regulatory and Legislative 
Operations.
[FR Doc. 2013-14090 Filed 6-13-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


