[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 67 (Friday, April 7, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20937-20939]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-07293]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2022-0058, Notice No. 1]


Review of Quiet Zone in Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, Fort 
Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Wilton Manors, Dania Beach, Hollywood, and 
Hallandale Beach, Florida

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of quiet zone review.

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

SUMMARY: FRA is providing notice of its intent to review a quiet zone 
located in Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Oakland 
Park, Wilton Manors, Dania Beach, Hollywood, and Hallandale Beach, 
Florida (Cities). Based on a high rate of reported accidents/incidents 
and related injuries and fatalities that occurred between January and 
December 2022, FRA has made a preliminary determination that the safety 
systems and measures implemented within the quiet zone do not fully 
compensate for the absence of routine sounding of locomotive horns due 
to a substantial increase in risk. In addition, FRA has made a 
preliminary determination of significant risk with respect to loss of 
life or serious personal injury within the quiet zone. Therefore, FRA 
intends to review existing conditions within the quiet zone to 
determine whether the quiet zone should be terminated or whether 
additional safety measures may be necessary to ensure motorist and 
pedestrian safety.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before May 8, 2023. FRA 
will consider comments filed after this date to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Comments: Comments related to this notice 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 
docket number (FRA-2022-0058). Please note that comments submitted 
online via www.regulations.gov are not immediately posted to the 
docket. Several business days may elapse after a comment has been 
submitted online before it is posted to the docket.
    Privacy Act: DOT solicits comments from the public to better inform 
its regulatory process. DOT posts these comments, without edit, to 
www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice, DOT/
ALL-14 FDMS, accessible through www.dot.gov/privacy. To facilitate 
comment tracking and response, commenters are encouraged to provide 
their name, or the name of their organization; however, submission of 
names is completely optional. Whether or not commenters identify 
themselves, all timely comments will be fully considered. If you wish 
to provide comments containing proprietary or confidential information, 
please contact the agency for alternate submission instructions.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read comments received, please 
visit https://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions 
for accessing the docket.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Payne, Staff Director, Highway-
Rail Crossing and Trespasser Programs Division (telephone: 202-441-
2787, email: [email protected]); or Kathryn Gresham, Attorney-
Adviser, Office of the Chief Counsel (telephone: 202-577-7142, email: 
[email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    FRA's amended final rule on the Use of Locomotive Horns at Public 
Highway-Rail Grade Crossings, which was issued on August 17, 2006,\1\ 
permits a jurisdiction to establish a quiet zone by designation, if the 
jurisdiction attests that they have implemented safety measures that 
reduce the risk of accidents/incidents and fatalities at public 
highway-rail grade crossings within the quiet zone to the Risk Index 
With Horns (RIWH).\2\ Through issuance of a Notice of Quiet Zone 
Establishment, dated April 24, 2019, the Cities established a multi-
jurisdictional quiet zone in Broward County, Florida (THR-000001420003) 
that includes the following highway-rail grade crossings:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 71 FR 47613, codified at 49 CFR parts 222 and 229.
    \2\ The RIWH is the level of risk to the motoring public when 
locomotive horns are routinely sounded at every public highway-rail 
grade crossing within the quiet zone.

[[Page 20938]]



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   U.S. DOT crossing
                State                            City            inventory No. (GX ID)         Street name
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL...................................  Deerfield Beach........  272511K................  NE 2nd Street.
FL...................................  Deerfield Beach........  272512S................  Hillsboro Blvd.
FL...................................  Deerfield Beach........  272513Y................  SE 4th Street.
FL...................................  Deerfield Beach........  272514F................  SW 10th Street.
FL...................................  Deerfield Beach........  272515M................  SW 15th Street.
FL...................................  Pompano Beach..........  272516U................  NE 48th Street.
FL...................................  Pompano Beach..........  272517B................  Sample Road.
FL...................................  Pompano Beach..........  272518H................  NE 33rd Street.
FL...................................  Pompano Beach..........  272519P................  Copans Road.
FL...................................  Pompano Beach..........  272526A................  NE 10th Street.
FL...................................  Pompano Beach..........  272528N................  NE 6th Street.
FL...................................  Pompano Beach..........  272531W................  NE 3rd Street.
FL...................................  Pompano Beach..........  272533K................  West Atlantic Avenue.
FL...................................  Pompano Beach..........  272534S................  SW 2nd Street.
FL...................................  Pompano Beach..........  272535Y................  SW 6th Street.
FL...................................  Oakland Park...........  272536F................  Cypress Creek Road.
FL...................................  Oakland Park...........  272537M................  Commercial Blvd.
FL...................................  Oakland Park...........  272538U................  NE 45th Street.
FL...................................  Oakland Park...........  272540V................  NE 38th Street.
FL...................................  Oakland Park...........  272541C................  NE 36th Street.
FL...................................  Oakland Park...........  272542J................  NE 34th Court.
FL...................................  Oakland Park...........  272544X................  Oakland Park Blvd.
FL...................................  Wilton Manors..........  272545E................  NE 26th Street.
FL...................................  Wilton Manors..........  272546L................  NE 24th Street.
FL...................................  Fort Lauderdale........  272547T................  NE 17th Court.
FL...................................  Fort Lauderdale........  272548A................  NE 13th Street.
FL...................................  Fort Lauderdale........  272549G................  Sunrise Blvd.
FL...................................  Fort Lauderdale........  272550B................  NE 3rd Avenue.
FL...................................  Fort Lauderdale........  272551H................  North Andrews Avenue.
FL...................................  Fort Lauderdale........  272552P................  Sistrunk Blvd.
FL...................................  Fort Lauderdale........  272553W................  NE 4th Street.
FL...................................  Fort Lauderdale........  272556S................  West Broward Blvd.
FL...................................  Fort Lauderdale........  272557Y................  SW 2nd Street.
FL...................................  Fort Lauderdale........  272558F................  SW 5th Street.
FL...................................  Fort Lauderdale........  272559M................  SW 6th Street.
FL...................................  Fort Lauderdale........  272560G................  SW 7th Street.
FL...................................  Fort Lauderdale........  272561N................  SW 9th Street.
FL...................................  Fort Lauderdale........  272562V................  Davie Blvd.
FL...................................  Fort Lauderdale........  272563C................  SW 15th Street.
FL...................................  Fort Lauderdale........  272564J................  SW 17th Street.
FL...................................  Fort Lauderdale........  272566X................  SW 22nd Street.
FL...................................  Fort Lauderdale........  272567E................  SW 24th Street.
FL...................................  Dania..................  272571U................  Griffin Road.
FL...................................  Dania..................  272572B................  NW 4 Old Griffin Road.
FL...................................  Dania..................  272573H................  NW 1st Street.
FL...................................  Dania..................  272574P................  West Dania Beach Blvd.
FL...................................  Dania..................  272575W................  Stirling Road.
FL...................................  Dania..................  272576D................  Dixie Highway.
FL...................................  Hollywood..............  272577K................  Sheridan Street.
FL...................................  Hollywood..............  272578S................  Taft Street.
FL...................................  Hollywood..............  272582G................  Garfield Street.
FL...................................  Hollywood..............  272584V................  Johnson Street.
FL...................................  Hollywood..............  272585C................  Filmore Street.
FL...................................  Hollywood..............  272586J................  Hollywood Blvd.
FL...................................  Hollywood..............  272587R................  Harrison Street.
FL...................................  Hollywood..............  272588X................  Monroe Street.
FL...................................  Hollywood..............  272589E................  Washington Street.
FL...................................  Hallandale.............  272590Y................  Pembroke Road.
FL...................................  Hallandale.............  272591F................  NW 3rd Street.
FL...................................  Hallandale.............  272592M................  E. Hallandale Beach
                                                                                          Blvd.
FL...................................  Hallandale.............  272593U................  SW 3rd Street.
FL...................................  Hollywood..............  272868A................  Tyler Street.
FL...................................  Oakland Park...........  272870B................  NE 56th Street.
FL...................................  Pompano Beach..........  273022D................  SW 3rd St.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the Notice of Quiet Zone Establishment, this crossing 
corridor qualified for quiet zone status on the basis of having a Quiet 
Zone Risk Index that was below the RIWH. Accordingly, the Notice of 
Quiet Zone Establishment indicated that the Cities had taken 
appropriate measures to compensate for the excess risk that results 
from restricting routine train horn sounding at the highway-rail grade 
crossings

[[Page 20939]]

identified in the notice, and the quiet zone took effect on May 18, 
2019.

Substantial Increase in Risk

    As reflected in the table below, between January and December 2022, 
at least 34 accidents/incidents have occurred within this multi-
jurisdictional quiet zone, resulting in 22 fatalities, six injuries, 
and six incidents where no injuries were reported. This is a 
significant number of accidents/incidents and fatalities as compared to 
quiet zone accident/incident data over the same period in other quiet 
zones across the country. While accidents/incidents and fatalities have 
occurred throughout the quiet zone, the table below reflects a 
concentration of accident/incidents and fatalities around Hollywood, 
Florida, including those involving persons classified as trespassers. 
In accordance with 49 CFR 222.51(c), FRA has made a preliminary 
determination that there is significant risk with respect to loss of 
life or serious personal injury within this quiet zone which 
necessitates a review by FRA.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           No.                     Date                Incident                City                 GX ID
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1........................  19-Jan-22...........  Fatality............  Deerfield Beach, FL  272513Y.
2........................  27-Jan-22...........  Fatality............  Hollywood, FL......  272587R.
3........................  12-Feb-22...........  Injury..............  Hollywood, FL......  272582G.
4........................  15-Feb-22...........  Fatality............  Hallandale Beach,    Trespass.
                                                                        FL.
5........................  21-Feb-22...........  Fatality............  Hollywood, FL......  Trespass.
6........................  25-Feb-22...........  Non-Injury..........  Pompano Beach, FL..  272518H.
7........................  06-Mar-22...........  Injury..............  Oakland Park, FL...  272542J.
8........................  12-Mar-22...........  Fatality............  Hollywood, FL......  Trespass.
9........................  18-Mar-22...........  Injury..............  Hallandale Beach,    272593U.
                                                                        FL.
10.......................  31-Mar-22...........  Injury..............  Wilton Manors, FL..  272545E.
11.......................  04-Apr-22...........  Injury..............  Hallandale Beach,    272595H.
                                                                        FL.
12.......................  12-Apr-22...........  Fatality............  Oakland Park, FL...  Trespass.
13.......................  20-Apr-22...........  Non-Injury..........  Oakland Park, FL...  272542J.
14.......................  02-May-22...........  Fatality............  Pompano Beach, FL..  272528N.
15.......................  03-May-22...........  Fatality............  Hollywood, FL......  272582G.
16.......................  07-May-22...........  Fatality............  Pompano Beach, FL..  272519P.
17.......................  08-May-22...........  Non-Injury..........  Pompano Beach, FL..  272531W.
18.......................  25-May-22...........  Fatality............  Pompano Beach, FL..  Trespass.
19.......................  31-May-22...........  Fatality............  Pompano Beach, FL..  Trespass.
20.......................  02-Jun-22...........  Fatality............  Pompano Beach, FL..  Trespass.
21.......................  07-Jun-22...........  Fatality............  Pompano Beach, FL..  272536F.
22.......................  13-Jun-22...........  Non-Injury..........  Dania Beach, FL....  272576D.
23.......................  24-Aug-22...........  Fatality............  Hollywood, FL......  Trespass.
24.......................  30-Aug-22...........  Fatality............  Wilton Manor, FL...  Trespass.
25.......................  02-Sep-22...........  Fatality............  Oakland Park, FL...  Trespass.
26.......................  06-Sep-22...........  Non-Injury..........  Pompano Beach, FL..  272533K.
27.......................  19-Sep-22...........  Fatality............  Hollywood, FL......  272868A.
28.......................  01-Oct-22...........  Fatality............  Oakland, FL........  Trespass.
29.......................  03-Oct-22...........  Injury..............  Hollywood, FL......  Trespass.
30.......................  01-Nov-22...........  Non-Injury..........  Fort Lauderdale, FL  Trespass.
31.......................  15-Nov-22...........  Fatality............  Fort Lauderdale, FL  Trespass.
32.......................  21-Nov-22...........  Fatality............  Dania Beach, FL....  Trespass.
33.......................  11-Dec-22...........  Fatality............  Hollywood, FL......  272588X.
34.......................  27-Dec-22...........  Fatality............  Fort Lauderdale, FL  Trespass.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scope of Review

    Since 1991, when FRA issued Emergency Order No. 15 regarding the 
use of locomotive horns at public highway-rail grade crossings,\3\ FRA 
has adopted a corridor-wide approach to evaluating and mitigating risk 
within quiet zones. A corridor-wide approach permits the most efficient 
deployment of risk reduction measures and encourages public authorities 
to focus their resources on addressing the most hazardous public 
highway-rail grade crossings.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ 56 FR 36190 (July 31, 1991).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As described in this notice, FRA intends to conduct a review of 
this multi-jurisdictional quiet zone (THR-000001420003) located along 
the Brightline passenger rail corridor and Florida East Coast Railway 
(FEC) freight rail corridor.
    Interested parties are invited to submit written comments on this 
quiet zone review to the docket. FRA is interested in obtaining 
information from the public about the prevalence of unsafe actions that 
have been observed at any of the above-listed grade crossings, 
including information about motorists or pedestrians that have been 
observed engaging in unsafe actions at any of the above-listed grade 
crossings. FRA is also interested in obtaining information from public 
authorities in the affected quiet zone about the effectiveness of 
existing quiet zone crossing safety improvements, as well any 
additional quiet zone safety improvements that may be under 
consideration and the anticipated timeline for implementing any such 
improvements. Please refer to the ADDRESSES section above for guidance 
on the submission of comments to the electronic docket.
    After the comment period closes, the Associate Administrator may 
require that additional safety measures be taken or that the quiet zone 
be terminated. The Associate Administrator will provide a copy of his 
decision to the Cities in which this multi-jurisdictional quiet zone is 
located, as well as the railroads that operate through the quiet zone 
and the State agencies responsible for grade crossing, highway, and 
road safety.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-07293 Filed 4-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


