[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 11, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8237-8238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-02863]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2008-0010]


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR), this document provides the public notice that by a document 
dated December 19, 2013, the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District 
(SMART), owner of 77 miles of former Northwestern Pacific Railroad 
Company trackage in Marin, Sonoma, and Napa Counties, CA, has 
petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a 
reconsideration of an approval condition on the Brazos Drawbridge at 
Milepost 64.7. SMART asked FRA to reconsider Condition 4 of FRA-2008-
0010, granted on February 24, 2009, which states, ``Approval is for 
freight movements only and shall be revisited prior to any passenger 
operations.''
    SMART, Amtrak, and the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority are 
asking for an exception to the condition cited above to permit the 
operation of two round-trip, chartered Amtrak passenger trains over the 
Brazos Drawbridge to Sonoma Raceway on

[[Page 8238]]

Sunday, June 22, 2014, for a NASCAR Special, and on Sunday, August 24, 
2014, for an Indy Car Special. The two passenger trains are an 11-car 
train from and to Sacramento, CA, and a 5-car train from and to San 
Jose, CA.
    FRA previously granted an exception to the condition cited above to 
allow a chartered Amtrak special train a 1-day movement on June 23, 
2013, over the Brazos Drawbridge while operating between Sacramento and 
Sonoma Raceway. That special train was considered a great success, and 
the Sonoma Raceway has requested SMART's cooperation in arranging for 
the operation of two special trains on June 22, 2014, as well as two 
special trains on August 24, 2014.
    The intended operating route of these special trains is from 
Sacramento and San Jose on the Union Pacific Railroad to Suisun-
Fairfield, via the California Northern Railroad from Suisun-Fairfield 
to Brazos Junction, and over SMART trackage from Brazos Junction over 
the Brazos Drawbridge to Sonoma Raceway and return.
    As in 2013, a specific operating plan will be in place to ensure 
correct operation of the Brazos Drawbridge and the safety of train 
operations, equipment, passenger boarding and alighting, staffing, and 
raceway access and egress.
    A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications 
concerning the petition, is available for review online at 
www.regulations.gov and in person at the U.S. Department of 
Transportation's (DOT) Docket Operations Facility, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE., W12-140, Washington, DC 20590. The Docket Operations 
Facility is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal Holidays.
    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.
    All communications concerning these proceedings should identify the 
appropriate docket number 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 by March 28, 2014 will be considered by FRA 
before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be 
considered as far as practicable.
    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 document, 
if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
See http://www.regulations.gov/#!privacyNotice for the privacy notice 
of regulations.gov or interested parties may review DOT's complete 
Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 
2000 (65 FR 19477).

Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-02863 Filed 2-10-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P