[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 11, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8237-8238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-02863]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA-2008-0010]
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 December 19, 2013, the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District
(SMART), owner of 77 miles of former Northwestern Pacific Railroad
Company trackage in Marin, Sonoma, and Napa Counties, CA, has
petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a
reconsideration of an approval condition on the Brazos Drawbridge at
Milepost 64.7. SMART asked FRA to reconsider Condition 4 of FRA-2008-
0010, granted on February 24, 2009, which states, ``Approval is for
freight movements only and shall be revisited prior to any passenger
operations.''
SMART, Amtrak, and the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority are
asking for an exception to the condition cited above to permit the
operation of two round-trip, chartered Amtrak passenger trains over the
Brazos Drawbridge to Sonoma Raceway on
[[Page 8238]]
Sunday, June 22, 2014, for a NASCAR Special, and on Sunday, August 24,
2014, for an Indy Car Special. The two passenger trains are an 11-car
train from and to Sacramento, CA, and a 5-car train from and to San
Jose, CA.
FRA previously granted an exception to the condition cited above to
allow a chartered Amtrak special train a 1-day movement on June 23,
2013, over the Brazos Drawbridge while operating between Sacramento and
Sonoma Raceway. That special train was considered a great success, and
the Sonoma Raceway has requested SMART's cooperation in arranging for
the operation of two special trains on June 22, 2014, as well as two
special trains on August 24, 2014.
The intended operating route of these special trains is from
Sacramento and San Jose on the Union Pacific Railroad to Suisun-
Fairfield, via the California Northern Railroad from Suisun-Fairfield
to Brazos Junction, and over SMART trackage from Brazos Junction over
the Brazos Drawbridge to Sonoma Raceway and return.
As in 2013, a specific operating plan will be in place to ensure
correct operation of the Brazos Drawbridge and the safety of train
operations, equipment, passenger boarding and alighting, staffing, and
raceway access and egress.
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 (DOT) 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 March 28, 2014 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).
Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-02863 Filed 2-10-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P