[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 163 (Tuesday, August 22, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 50952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21261]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

49 CFR Part 243

[FRA Docket No. HST-1; Notice No. 3]
RIN 2130-AB14


FOX High Speed Rail Safety Standards

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), DOT.

ACTION: Termination of rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This document terminates rulemaking action in FRA Docket No. 
HST-1. In its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) published on 
December 12, 1997, FRA proposed to establish safety standards for the 
Florida Overland eXpress (FOX) high speed rail system. Termination of 
this rulemaking is based on Florida's decision not to develop the FOX 
high speed rail system.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine Beyer, Deputy Assistant 
Chief Counsel for Safety, Office of Chief Counsel, FRA, 1120 Vermont 
Avenue, N.W., Stop 10, Washington, D.C. 20590 (telephone: 202-493-
6027).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The State of Florida was planning to develop 
a high speed rail system that would utilize high speed technology and 
equipment modeled on the French TGV, that would run from Miami to 
Tampa, via Orlando. On February 18, 1997, the developer of the high 
speed system, the Florida Overland eXpress (FOX), filed a petition for 
rulemaking with FRA that proposed safety standards for the proposed 
high speed rail system. After analyzing the Petition, FRA published a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) (62 FR 65478, December 12, 1997) 
on the subject that incorporated many of the standards proposed by the 
FOX Petition and proposed new standards. The funding for this project 
was to be shared by the public and private sector. However, after 
publication of the NPRM, the State of Florida decided to withdraw its 
financial support for the high speed rail system. Consequently, the 
proposed system will not be constructed.

Termination of Rulemaking

    Based on the foregoing information FRA has decided to terminate 
this rulemaking, as it would have been solely applicable to the FOX 
high speed rail project. We note that this rulemaking has been a 
worthwhile first step in addressing the safety concerns inherent in the 
implementation of certain high speed rail operations. We are confident 
that further steps in addressing these concerns will build upon the 
information and discussion generated by this proceeding. In light of 
the foregoing, FRA is hereby terminating this rulemaking.

    Issued in Washington, DC on August 11, 2000.
Jolene M. Molitoris,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 00-21261 Filed 8-21-00; 8:45 am]
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