[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 119 (Thursday, June 19, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34979-34980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13892]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Notice of Application for Approval of Discontinuance or
Modification of a Railroad Signal System or Relief From the
Requirements of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 236
Pursuant to Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 235 and
49 U.S.C. 20502(a), the following railroad has petitioned the Federal
Railroad Administration (FRA) seeking approval for the discontinuance
or modification of the signal system or relief from the requirements of
49 CFR Part 236 as detailed below.
[Docket Number FRA-2008-0064]
Applicant: Portland and Western Railroad, Inc., Mr. Paul A. Zalec, Vice
President Passenger Operations, 650 Hawthorne Avenue, SE., Suite 220,
Salem, Oregon 97301.
The Portland and Western Railroad, Inc. (PWRR) seeks relief from
the requirements of the Rules, Standards, and Instructions, Title 49
CFR, Part 236, Section 236.513(a), Audible Indicator, for its planned
Wilsonville to Beaverton commuter rail project, to the extent that PWRR
be permitted to utilize a cab signal system that does not contain any
onboard acknowledgment device beyond the acknowledgment received from
movement of brake control(s). The location of the request is from
Wilsonville, Oregon, on the former Oregon Electric Railway, Oregon
Electric Subdivision milepost (MP) 42.8 to Beaverton, OR, Tillamook
District, MP 755.50, a distance of approximately 15.3 route miles.
[[Page 34980]]
Applicant's justification for relief: It is proposed to provide a
momentary audible indication when a more restrictive aspect is
received, but not require a manual acknowledgement of that audible
indication. The onboard automatic train control system continually
monitors the operator's adherence to the existing speed limit, provides
an alarm if the speed limit is being violated, and applies an
irrevocable penalty brake application if the operator does not act
appropriately to safely bring the speed of the train below the speed
limit. Eliminating the need for acknowledgement in favor of continuous
speed enforcement eliminates confusion on the part of the operator.
Interested parties are invited to participate in these proceedings
by submitting written views, data, or comments. FRA does not anticipate
scheduling a public hearing in connection with these proceedings since
the facts do not appear to warrant a hearing. If any interested party
desires an opportunity for oral comment, they should notify FRA, in
writing, before the end of the comment period and specify the basis for
their request.
Any interested party desiring to protest the granting of an
application shall set forth specifically the grounds upon which the
protest is made, and it shall contain a concise statement of the
interest of the party in the proceeding. Additionally, one copy of the
protest shall be furnished to the applicant at the address listed
above.
All communications concerning these proceedings should be
identified by Docket Number FRA-2008-0064 and may be submitted by any
of the following methods:
Web site: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: Docket Operations Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., W12-140, Washington, DC
20590.
Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room W12-140,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
Communications received within 45 days of the date of this notice
will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments
received after that date will be considered as far as practicable. All
written communications concerning these proceedings are available for
examination during regular business hours (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) at the above
facility. All documents in the public docket are also available for
inspection and copying on the Internet at the docket facility's Web
site at http://www.regulations.gov.
Anyone is able to search the electronic form of any written
communications and comments received into any of our dockets by the
name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment,
if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.).
You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal
Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages
19477-78).
Issued in Washington, DC, on June 16, 2008.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program
Development.
[FR Doc. E8-13892 Filed 6-18-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P