[Federal Register: August 8, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 154)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 46191-46192]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08au08-3]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[USCG-2008-0785]
Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Shrewsbury River, Route 36
Bridge, Highlands, NJ, Schedule Change
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations; request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a
temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the
Route 36 Bridge, across the Shrewsbury River, mile 1.8, at Highlands,
New Jersey. This deviation will test a change to the drawbridge
operation schedule to determine whether a permanent change to the
schedule is needed. This deviation will allow the bridge to open on
signal for all marine traffic once an hour on the hour between 4 p.m.
and 7 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
DATES: This deviation is effective from 4 p.m. on August 2, 2008,
through 7 p.m. on September 1, 2008. Comments must reach the Coast
Guard on or before November 1, 2008.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Coast Guard docket
number USCG-2008-0785 to the Docket Management Facility at the U.S.
Department of Transportation. To avoid duplication, please use only one
of the following methods:
(1) Online: http://www.regulations.gov.
(2) Mail: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of
Transportation, West Building ground floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
(3) Hand Delivery: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone
number is (202) 366-9329.
(4) Fax: (202) 493-2251.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Gary Kassof, Project Officer,
First Coast Guard District, (212) 668-7165.
If you have questions on viewing or submitting material to the
docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations,
telephone (202) 366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 46192]]
Public Participation and Request for Comments
We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting
comments and related material. All comments received will be posted,
without change, to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any
personal information you have provided. We have an agreement with the
Department of Transportation to use the Docket Management Facility.
Submitting Comments
If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this
rulemaking (USCG-2008-0785), indicate the specific section of this
document to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each
comment. We recommend that you include your name and mailing address,
an e-mail address, or a phone number in the body of your document so
that we can contact you if we have questions regarding your submission.
You may submit your comments and materials by electronic means, mail,
fax, or delivery to the Docket Management Facility at the address under
ADDRESSES; but please submit your comments and materials by only one
means. If you submit them by mail or delivery, submit them in an
unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for
copying and electronic filing. If you submit them by mail and would
like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped,
self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and
material received during the comment period. We may change this
proposed rule in view of them.
Viewing Comments and Documents
To view comments, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble
as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov at
any time. Enter the docket number for this rulemaking (USCG-2008-0785)
in the Search box, and click ``Go>>.'' You may also visit either the
Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140, on the ground floor of the
Department of Transportation West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue,
SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays; or First Coast Guard District,
Bridge Branch, One South Street, New York, NY 10004, between 9 a.m. and
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Privacy Act
Anyone can search the electronic form of all 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 a Privacy Act, system of
records notice regarding our public dockets in the January 17, 2008,
issue of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316).
Public Meeting
We do not plan to hold a public meeting. But you may submit a
request for one to the Docket Management Facility at the address under
ADDRESSES explaining why one would be beneficial. If we determine that
one would aid this rulemaking, we will hold one at a time and place
announced by a later notice in the Federal Register.
Background and Purpose
The Route 36 Bridge has a vertical clearance in the closed position
of 35 feet at mean high water and 39 feet at mean low water. The
existing drawbridge operation regulations are listed at 33 CFR
117.755(a). The bridge presently opens on the hour and half hour
between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. from May 15 through October 15, and on signal
from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. From 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. the bridge opens on
signal after a four-hour advance notice is given.
The Shrewsbury River is navigated predominantly by recreational
power boats and sail boats of various sizes.
Currently only one lane of vehicular traffic is open northbound on
the Route 36 Bridge due to the Highlands Bridge replacement project
presently underway. Two lanes of vehicular traffic were closed in early
July 2008, to facilitate the new bridge construction.
As a result of the vehicular travel lane closures traffic
congestion has become a major concern to motorists and local officials.
The nearby Gateway National Recreation Area, operated by the National
Park Service, has been particularly impacted on weekends by traffic
delays as a result of the bridge construction and drawbridge openings
for vessel traffic.
The National Park Service, the New Jersey Department of
Transportation, and local officials have made various adjustments to
traffic control to help mitigate the vehicular traffic congestion;
however, the traffic congestion on weekends in the afternoon continues
to be a major safety concern when motorists are exiting the Sandy Hook
area and the Gateway National Recreation Park.
As a result, the National Park Service requested a temporary
deviation from the drawbridge operation regulations to test an
alternate drawbridge operation schedule to help better balance the
needs between vehicular land traffic and marine vessel traffic.
Under this temporary deviation, in effect from August 2, 2008
through September 1, 2008, the Route 36 Bridge at mile 1.8, across the
Shrewsbury River, shall operate as follows:
Monday through Friday, the draw shall open on signal, from 7 a.m.
to 8 p.m., on the hour and half hour only. From 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. the
draw shall open on signal. From 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. the draw shall open
on signal after at least a four-hour notice is given by calling 732-
872-1052.
Saturday, Sunday and Labor Day, the draw shall open on signal from
7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the hour and half hour only.
From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. the draw shall open on signal once an hour, on
the hour only. From 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. the draw shall open on signal.
From 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. the draw shall open on signal after at least a
four-hour advance notice is given by calling 732-872-1052.
In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), the bridge must return to its
regular operating schedule immediately at the end of the designated
time period. This deviation from the operating regulations is
authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.
Dated: July 31, 2008.
Gary Kassof,
Bridge Program Manager, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. E8-18312 Filed 8-7-08; 8:45 am]
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