Notice2023-08746
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's Request for Approval To Begin Field Testing on Its Positive Train Control Network
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
April 26, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Abstract
This document provides the public with notice that, on April 11, 2023, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) submitted a request to field test its trains that have been equipped with MBTA's Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System II (ACSES II) technology on its South Coast Rail commuter rail lines. MBTA states that the tests will be performed and operation verified for all ACSES II PTC functions. FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on MBTA's request to test its PTC system.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 80 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25444-25445]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08746]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2010-0030]
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's Request for Approval
To Begin Field Testing on Its Positive Train Control Network
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 April
11, 2023, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)
submitted a request to field test its trains that have been equipped
with MBTA's Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System II (ACSES II)
technology on its South Coast Rail commuter rail lines. MBTA states
that the tests will be performed and operation verified for all ACSES
II PTC functions. FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public
comment on MBTA's request to test its PTC system.
DATES: FRA will consider comments received by June 26, 2023. FRA may
consider comments received after that date to the extent practicable
and without delaying implementation of valuable or necessary testing on
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#8ccbedeee9a2c2e9ede0cce8e3f8a2ebe3fa"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c98ea8abace787aca8a589ada6bde7aea6bf">[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. On June 30, 2020, FRA certified MBTA's
ACSES II PTC system under 49 CFR 236.1015 and 49 U.S.C. 20157(h).
Pursuant to 49 CFR 236.1035, a railroad must obtain FRA's approval
before field testing an uncertified PTC system, or a product of an
uncertified PTC system, or any regression testing of a certified PTC
system on the general rail system. See 49 CFR 236.1035(a). There are
three stages of testing for which approval is being requested, starting
with track database validation, followed by pre-certification and
integration testing, and the final stage involving test results and
documentation completion. MBTA's test request contains the required
information, including a complete description of MBTA's Concept of
Operations and its specific test procedures, including the measures
that will be taken to ensure safety during testing, are available for
review online at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> in Docket No. FRA-2010-
0030.
Interested parties are invited to comment on MBTA's Test Request by
submitting written comments or data. During FRA's review of this
railroad's request, FRA will consider any comments or data submitted
within the timeline specified in this notice and to the extent
practicable, without delaying testing of valuable or necessary
modifications to a PTC system. See 49 CFR 236.1035. Under 49 CFR
236.1035, FRA maintains the authority to approve, approve with
conditions, or deny a railroad's test request 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
[[Page 25445]]
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. 2023-08746 Filed 4-25-23; 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 April 26, 2023.
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.