Notice2023-08282
Metro-North Railroad's Request To Amend Its Positive Train Control Safety Plan and Positive Train Control System
Primary source
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Published
April 19, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Abstract
This document provides the public with notice that, on April 11, 2023, Metro-North Railroad (MNR) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety Plan (PTCSP). As this RFA involves a request for FRA's approval of proposed material modifications to an FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system, FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on the railroad's RFA to its PTCSP. MNR state that this RFA is for an update to MNR's PTC Onboard Software, release OBC 5.04.000, correcting existing defects. With the successful completion of Factory and Field Testing and Supplier Safety Certification, MNR confirms the changes meet all technical requirements, provide an equivalent or greater level of safety than the existing PTC System in service, and does not adversely impact interoperability with tenant railroads.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 75 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 24265]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08282]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2010-0032]
Metro-North Railroad's Request To Amend Its Positive Train
Control Safety Plan and Positive Train Control System
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This document provides the public with notice that, on April
11, 2023, Metro-North Railroad (MNR) submitted a request for amendment
(RFA) to its FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety Plan (PTCSP).
As this RFA involves a request for FRA's approval of proposed material
modifications to an FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system,
FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on the
railroad's RFA to its PTCSP. MNR state that this RFA is for an update
to MNR's PTC Onboard Software, release OBC 5.04.000, correcting
existing defects. With the successful completion of Factory and Field
Testing and Supplier Safety Certification, MNR confirms the changes
meet all technical requirements, provide an equivalent or greater level
of safety than the existing PTC System in service, and does not
adversely impact interoperability with tenant railroads.
DATES: FRA will consider comments received by May 9, 2023. FRA may
consider comments received after that date to the extent practicable
and without delaying implementation of valuable or necessary
modifications to a PTC 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 this host
railroad is Docket No. FRA-2010-0032. For convenience, all active PTC
dockets are hyperlinked on FRA's website at <a href="https://railroads.dot.gov/research-development/program-areas/train-control/ptc/railroads-ptc-dockets">https://railroads.dot.gov/research-development/program-areas/train-control/ptc/railroads-ptc-dockets</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#c384a2a1a6ed8da6a2af83a7acb7eda4acb5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="32755350571c7c57535e72565d461c555d44">[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 PTCSP, a host
railroad must submit, and obtain FRA's approval of, an RFA to its PTCSP
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 material modification of a signal and train control
system. Accordingly, this notice informs the public that, on April 11,
2023, MNR submitted an RFA to its PTCSP for its Advanced Civil Speed
Enforcement System II (ACSES II), seeking FRA's approval of a new
software release, Onboard Computer (OBC) 5.04.000 Software Baseline,
and that RFA is available in Docket No. FRA-2010-0032.
Interested parties are invited to comment on MNR's RFA to its PTCSP
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 PTCSP 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. 2023-08282 Filed 4-18-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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