Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's Request To Amend Its Positive Train Control System

Issuing agencies

Abstract

This document provides the public with notice that, on September 24, 2026, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system to install Construction Zone (CZ) Transponders on its Worcester Main Line (WML) segment during December 2026. The installation of the CZ is required to reconfigure PTC on the WML between Control Point (CP) 11 (BL 11.40) and CP-21 (BL 21.30). The CZ will result in the suspension of portions of MBTA's PTC system on the WML. As this RFA involves 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 MBTA's RFA to its PTC system.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 199 (Friday, October 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 199 (Friday, October 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 65843]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21181]



[[Page 65843]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number 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 
September 24, 2026, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority 
(MBTA) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-certified 
positive train control (PTC) system to install Construction Zone (CZ) 
Transponders on its Worcester Main Line (WML) segment during December 
2026. The installation of the CZ is required to reconfigure PTC on the 
WML between Control Point (CP) 11 (BL 11.40) and CP-21 (BL 21.30). The 
CZ will result in the suspension of portions of MBTA's PTC system on 
the WML. As this RFA involves 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 MBTA's RFA to its 
PTC system.

DATES: FRA will consider comments received by November 5, 2026. 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#7d3a1c1f185333181c113d191209531a120b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ce89afacabe080abafa28eaaa1bae0a9a1b8">[email&#160;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 or train control 
system. Accordingly, this notice informs the public that on September 
24, 2026, MBTA submitted an RFA to its PTCSP for its Advanced Civil 
Speed Enforcement System II, which seeks FRA's approval for a temporary 
discontinuance in December 2026 to establish a CZ on the WML. That RFA 
is available in Docket No. FRA-2010-0030.
    Interested parties are invited to comment on MBTA's RFA by 
submitting written comments or data. During FRA's review of MBTA'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 at FRA's sole discretion.

Privacy Act Notice

    In accordance with 49 CFR 211.3, FRA solicits comments from the 
public to 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 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. 2026-21181 Filed 10-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


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