[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 210 (Wednesday, October 30, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 58200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-23669]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2019-0087]


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    Under part 211 of title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR), this document provides the public notice that on October 16, 
2019, the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation 
(Metra) petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a 
waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal railroad 
safety regulations contained at 49 CFR 236.566, Locomotive of each 
train operating in train stop, train control or cab signal territory; 
equipped. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2019-0087.
    Specifically, Metra requests to operate positive train control 
(PTC) equipped controlling locomotives with the automatic cab signals 
(ACS) cut-out. The relief is to be within a PTC revenue service 
demonstration (RSD) area on the Rock Island District, on which a PTC 
system (Interoperable Electronic Train Management System) is installed 
and operative; the PTC system is successfully initialized; and a 
locomotive engineer trained and qualified in the operation of PTC is 
present for the operation of the train with the ACS cut-out.
    Locations of the requested relief on the Rock Island District are:

 Track No. 1, Westward--MP 14.5 to MP 39.9; Eastward--MP 39.9 
to MP 14.5
 Track No. 2, Westward--MP 14.5 to MP 39.9; Eastward--MP 39.9 
to MP 14.5
 Main Track, MP 39.9 to 40.2.

    If the PTC system fails and/or is cut-out en route, the train crew 
will cut-in the ACS onboard system, perform a departure test, and if 
successful, continue the trip through the project limits under ACS 
operation. If the ACS onboard system cut-in and/or departure test are 
not completed successfully, the train will continue to operate under 
the provisions of Sec.  236.567, Restrictions imposed when device fails 
and/or is cut out en route.
    Metra notes that the ACS and PTC systems are not integrated on the 
locomotive, and their concurrent use would be potentially confusing and 
distracting to the train crew due to differences in the content of 
their displays, audible and visual alerts provided, and required 
acknowledgement protocols.
    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 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 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 by any of the following 
methods:
     Website: 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 Ave. SE, W12-140, Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Ave. 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 16, 2019 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 www.transportation.gov/privacy. 
See also http://www.regulations.gov/#!privacyNotice for the privacy 
notice of regulations.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2019-23669 Filed 10-29-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


