
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 180 (Tuesday, September 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64516-64517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20203]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2018-0067]


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 on August 3, 2023, the 
Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain) 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 parts 229 (Railroad Locomotive Safety 
Standards), 231 (Railroad Safety Appliance Standards), and 238 
(Passenger Equipment Safety Standards). The relevant Docket Number is 
FRA-2018-0067.
    Specifically, Caltrain requests continued relief for its Stadler-
built KISS Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) railcars specific to the 
passenger area emergency brake valve (as required by Sec.  229.47(b), 
Emergency brake valve, and Sec.  238.305(c)(5), Interior calendar day

[[Page 64517]]

mechanical inspection of passenger cars); the clearance above the top 
rail (as required by Sec.  229.71, Clearance above top of rail); and 
the safety appliances (as required by Sec.  229.71(b)-(d) and (f)-(g), 
Sec.  238.229, Safety appliances--general, and Sec.  238.230(d), Safety 
appliances--new equipment). Caltrain also notes that it has increased 
its EMU fleet from 16 six-car trainsets to 19 seven-car trainsets. 
Additionally, the intermediate level doors in the EMUs have been 
replaced with door plugs, as the doors ``will not be utilized for 
initial operation at Caltrain.'' Caltrain states that although the EMUs 
``may not meet the specific requirements'' of the regulations, it 
requests relief for ``alternate or equivalent compliance.''
    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 parties 
desire 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 http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
    Communications received by November 20, 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), 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. 2023-20203 Filed 9-18-23; 8:45 am]
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