[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 115 (Friday, June 14, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36013-36014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing 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