Notice2023-08456
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's Request To Amend Its Positive Train Control System
Primary source
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Published
April 21, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Abstract
This document provides the public with notice that, on April 7, 2023, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system in order to support the implementation of PTC on its commuter rail network. On MBTA's North Side, the PTC System in the area is being reconfigured and must be taken out of service during the recommissioning of Automatic Train Control (ATC) and the subsequent recommissioning of MBTA's Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System II (ACSES II). FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on the railroad's RFA to its PTC system.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 77 (Friday, April 21, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 77 (Friday, April 21, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 24655]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08456]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2010-0030]
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's Request To Amend Its
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
7, 2023, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)
submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-certified positive
train control (PTC) system in order to support the implementation of
PTC on its commuter rail network. On MBTA's North Side, the PTC System
in the area is being reconfigured and must be taken out of service
during the recommissioning of Automatic Train Control (ATC) and the
subsequent recommissioning of MBTA's Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement
System II (ACSES II). FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public
comment on the railroad's RFA to its PTC system.
DATES: FRA will consider comments received by May 11, 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-2010-0030. 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#1750767572395972767b5773786339707861"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="62250300074c2c07030e22060d164c050d14">[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 PTC Safety Plan
(PTCSP), a host railroad must submit, and obtain FRA's approval of, an
RFA to its PTC system or 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 7,
2023, MBTA submitted an RFA to its ACSES II system, which seeks FRA's
approval to install Construction Zone (CZ) Transponders on MBTA's
Western Route Main Line (WRML) segment between June and December 2023.
MBTA state that the installation of the CZs is required to implement
ATC and to reconfigure and retest PTC on MBTA's WRML. The CZs will
result in the suspension of portions of the PTC system on these lines.
During this time there will be no revenue passenger operations until
the ATC system is placed into operation. Freight and non-revenue
passenger operations will be conducted under NORAC rule 241 that limits
trains to Restricted Speed. Once the ATC system is in operation, the
ATC system along with the operating rules will govern train operations
until the test and commissioning of the reconfigured ACSES system is
complete. The RFA is available in Docket No. FRA-2010-0030.
Interested parties are invited to comment on MBTA's RFA to its PTC
system 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 PTC
system 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. 2023-08456 Filed 4-20-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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