Notice2024-29083
TEXRail's Request To Amend Its Positive Train Control Safety Plan and Positive Train Control System
Primary source
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Published
December 11, 2024
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Abstract
This document provides the public with notice that, on October 31, 2024, TEXRail (TEX) submitted its Positive Train Control Safety Plan (PTCSP), Version 2.0, dated October 9, 2024, to FRA's Secure Information Repository. TEX asks FRA to approve its updated PTCSP and certify TEX's Interoperable Electronic Train Management System (I-ETMS) as a "mixed" positive train control (PTC) system. As this RFA may involve a request for FRA's approval of proposed material modifications to an FRA-certified PTC system, FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on TEX's RFA to its PTCSP.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 238 (Wednesday, December 11, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 11, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 99962]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-29083]
[[Page 99962]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA-2018-0012]
TEXRail'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 October
31, 2024, TEXRail (TEX) submitted its Positive Train Control Safety
Plan (PTCSP), Version 2.0, dated October 9, 2024, to FRA's Secure
Information Repository. TEX asks FRA to approve its updated PTCSP and
certify TEX's Interoperable Electronic Train Management System (I-ETMS)
as a ``mixed'' positive train control (PTC) system. As this RFA may
involve a request for FRA's approval of proposed material modifications
to an FRA-certified PTC system, FRA is publishing this notice and
inviting public comment on TEX's RFA to its PTCSP.
DATES: FRA will consider comments received by February 10, 2025 before
taking final action on the PTCSP. 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
railroad is Docket No. FRA-2018-0012. 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#2f684e4d4a01614a4e436f4b405b01484059"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="42052320276c0c27232e02262d366c252d34">[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 or train control
system. Accordingly, this notice informs the public that, on October
31, 2024, TEX submitted an RFA to its PTCSP for its I-ETMS PTC system
which seeks FRA's approval to change the classification of its PTC
system to a Mixed PTC system. In its PTCSP, TEX asserts that the I-ETMS
PTC system it is implementing is a mixed PTC system as defined in Title
49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 236.1015(e). The PTCSP describes
TEX's I-ETMS implementation and the associated I-ETMS safety processes,
safety analyses, and test, validation, and verification processes used
during the development of I-ETMS. The PTCSP also contains TEX's
operational and support requirements and procedures. That RFA is
available in Docket No. FRA-2018-0012. Interested parties are invited
to comment on TEX's RFA to its PTCSP by submitting written comments or
data. During FRA's review of TEX'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). However, FRA may elect not to respond to any
particular comment, and under 49 CFR 236.1009(d)(3), FRA maintains the
authority to approve or disapprove the PTCSP at its 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. 2024-29083 Filed 12-10-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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