Notice2022-20509
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's Request To Amend Its Positive Train Control Implementation Plan, Including a Request for Approval of a Discontinuance or Modification of a Railroad Signal System
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 22, 2022
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Abstract
This document provides the public with notice that, on July 27, 2022, and supplemented on August 4, 2022, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-approved Positive Train Control Implementation Plan (PTCIP). The RFA includes a petition seeking approval to discontinue or modify a signal system. On August 17, 2022, FRA approved, in part, SEPTA's RFA to its PTCIP; however, FRA did not provide a decision on SEPTA's request to discontinue or modify a portion of its signal system at that time, as FRA must seek public comment on that aspect before issuing a decision.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 183 (Thursday, September 22, 2022)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 183 (Thursday, September 22, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 57970]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-20509]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2010-0036]
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's Request To
Amend Its Positive Train Control Implementation Plan, Including a
Request for Approval of a Discontinuance or Modification of a Railroad
Signal System
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document provides the public with notice that, on July
27, 2022, and supplemented on August 4, 2022, the Southeastern
Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) submitted a request for
amendment (RFA) to its FRA-approved Positive Train Control
Implementation Plan (PTCIP). The RFA includes a petition seeking
approval to discontinue or modify a signal system. On August 17, 2022,
FRA approved, in part, SEPTA's RFA to its PTCIP; however, FRA did not
provide a decision on SEPTA's request to discontinue or modify a
portion of its signal system at that time, as FRA must seek public
comment on that aspect before issuing a decision.
DATES: FRA will consider comments received by November 7, 2022. FRA may
consider comments received after that date to the extent practicable
and without delaying implementation of valuable or necessary
modifications to a signal system.
ADDRESSES:
Comments: Comments may be submitted by going to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and following the online instructions for
submitting comments.
Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and the
applicable docket number. The relevant PTC docket number for the host
railroad that filed this RFA to its PTCIP is Docket No. FRA-2010-0036.
For convenience, all active PTC dockets are hyperlinked on FRA's
website at <a href="https://railroads.dot.gov/train-control/ptc/ptc-annual-and-quarterly-reports">https://railroads.dot.gov/train-control/ptc/ptc-annual-and-quarterly-reports</a>. All comments received will be posted without change
to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>; this includes any personal information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gabe Neal, Staff Director, Signal,
Train Control, and Crossings Division, telephone: 816-516-7168, email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#afe8cecdca81e1cacec3efcbc0db81c8c0d9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="094e686b6c27476c6865496d667d276e667f">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In general, title 49 United States Code
(U.S.C.) section 20157(h) requires FRA to certify that a host
railroad's PTC system complies with title 49 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) part 236, subpart I, before the technology may be
operated in revenue service. Before making certain changes to an FRA-
certified PTC system or the associated FRA-approved PTCIP, a host
railroad must submit, and obtain FRA's approval of, an RFA to its PTCIP
under 49 CFR 236.1021.
Under 49 CFR 236.1021(e), FRA's regulations provide that FRA will
publish a notice in the Federal Register and invite public comment in
accordance with 49 CFR part 211, if an RFA includes a request for
approval of a discontinuance or material modification of a signal and
train control system. Accordingly, this notice informs the public that,
on July 27, 2022, 2022, SEPTA submitted an RFA to its PTCIP for its
Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System II (ACSES II) and that RFA is
available in Docket No. FRA-2010-0036.
Specifically, under 49 CFR 236.1021(c), SEPTA requested approval to
discontinue the MB and 6N signals at Control Point (CP) South Elwyn
located at milepost (MP) 15.9 and the 1660 automatic signal located at
MP 16.6 in approach to CP South Elwyn on its West Chester Line. SEPTA
also proposed to make the method of operation between CP Elwyn (MP
15.3) and CP Wawa (MP 18.07) by signal indication of a traffic control
system, without fixed automatic block signals, supplemented by a cab
signal and ACSES II PTC system. SEPTA states that the signals at CP
South Elwyn are no longer needed as new signals have been installed at
CP Lenni North, located at MP 17.59, which will now control the
direction of the signal system traffic. In addition, with the extension
of passenger service to Wawa station, SEPTA will no longer have an
operational need to turn or hold trains at CP South Elwyn. With the
installation of a cab signal and ACSES II PTC system between CP Elwyn
and CP Wawa, SEPTA's 1660 automatic signal is no longer required.
As this RFA involves a request for FRA's approval to discontinue or
modify a signal system, FRA is publishing this notice and inviting
public comment on the railroad's request to discontinue or modify a
signal system.
Interested parties are invited to comment on SEPTA's RFA to its
PTCIP by submitting written comments or data. During FRA's review of
this railroad's RFA, FRA will consider any comments or data submitted
within the timeline specified in this notice and to the extent
practicable, without delaying implementation of valuable or necessary
modifications to a PTC system. See 49 CFR 236.1021; see also 49 CFR
236.1011(e). Under 49 CFR 236.1021, FRA maintains the authority to
approve, approve with conditions, or deny a railroad's RFA to its PTCIP
at FRA's sole discretion.
Privacy Act Notice
In accordance with 49 CFR 211.3, FRA solicits comments from the
public to better inform its decisions. DOT posts these comments,
without edit, including any personal information the commenter
provides, to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, as described in the system of
records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/privacy">https://www.transportation.gov/privacy</a>. See <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/privacy-notice">https://www.regulations.gov/privacy-notice</a> for the privacy notice of <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>. To facilitate
comment tracking, we encourage commenters to provide their name, or the
name of their organization; however, submission of names is completely
optional. If you wish to provide comments containing proprietary or
confidential information, please contact FRA for alternate submission
instructions.
Issued in Washington, DC.
Carolyn R. Hayward-Williams,
Director, Office of Railroad Systems and Technology.
[FR Doc. 2022-20509 Filed 9-21-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 22, 2022.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.