[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 216 (Thursday, November 9, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52095-52097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24364]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

Federal Railroad Administration


Fiscal Year 2017 Positive Train Control Grant Program Project 
Selections

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Transit 
Administration (FTA) and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announce 
the selection of projects for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Positive Train 
Control (PTC) Grant Program. A total of $197.01 million in the PTC 
grant funding, authorized under the Fixing America's Surface 
Transportation (FAST) Act, will be provided to 17 projects in 13 
states. On July 29, 2016, FTA and FRA published a Notice of Funding 
Opportunity (NOFO) announcing the availability of Federal funding for 
the PTC Grant Program. These funds will provide financial assistance to 
states, local governments, and public agencies for the implementation 
of positive train control systems to improve safety. Funds allocated in 
this announcement must be obligated in a grant by September 30, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Recipients selected for competitive 
funding in Table 1 should contact the appropriate FTA Regional Office 
for information regarding applying for the funds or program-specific 
information. A list of FTA's Regional Offices can be found at 
www.fta.dot.gov. For questions regarding PTC technology or statutory 
and regulatory requirements, please contact Mr. Devin Rouse, Program 
Manager, Federal Railroad Administration (phone: (202) 493-6185, email: 
[email protected]). A TDD is available at 1-800-877-8339 (TDD/FIRS).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In response to the NOFO, FTA and FRA 
received 27 proposals from 16 states requesting $455 million in Federal 
funds, indicating significant demand for funding to expedite the 
implementation of PTC systems. Project proposals were evaluated based 
on each applicant's responses to the program evaluation criteria 
outlined in the NOFO.
    FTA is funding the 17 projects shown in Table 1 for a total of 
$197.01 million. Recipients selected for competitive funding should 
work with their FTA Regional Office to submit a grant application in 
FTA's transit award management system (TrAMS) for the projects 
identified in the attached table to quickly obligate funds. As funds 
must be obligated by September 30, 2018, all grant applications must be 
submitted to FTA by June 30, 2018. Grant applications must include the 
eligible activities applied for in the original project application. 
Funds must be used consistent with the competitive proposal and for the 
eligible capital purposes established in the NOFO.
    In cases where the award amount is less than the proposer's total 
requested amount, recipients must submit grant applications to fund the 
scalable project option as described in the project's application. If 
the award amount does not correspond to the scalable option, for 
example due to a cap on the award amount, the recipient should work 
with the FTA Regional Office to reduce scope or scale the project so 
that a complete phase or project is accomplished. Recipients are 
reminded that program requirements such as cost sharing or local match 
can be found in the NOFO. A discretionary project identification number 
has been assigned to each project for tracking purposes and must be 
used in the TrAMS application.
    On October 16, 2008, Congress enacted the Railroad Safety 
Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA), which required Class 1 railroad main 
lines and commuter railroad passenger service to fully implement 
positive train control by December 31, 2015. In the Positive Train 
Control Enforcement and Implementation Act of 2015, Congress extended 
the deadline for implementing positive train control to December 31, 
2018. FTA will streamline the grant application process to help 
commuter railroads meet the approaching deadline. FTA is providing pre-
award authority and will reimburse eligible project costs on successful 
projects consistent with the selected project proposals. The 
eligibility for reimbursement using pre-award authority is contingent 
upon the project meeting other Federal requirements, such as 
environmental requirements, prior to costs being incurred. FTA is not 
applying its regulation, 49 CFR part 633 Project Management Oversight 
to this program. Furthermore, FTA waives the requirement that projects 
be listed in the

[[Page 52096]]

Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP). Department of Labor 
(DOL) certification is also not required. The above waivers are only 
applicable to funds awarded in this notice.
    Post-award reporting requirements include submission of the Federal 
financial report and milestone progress reports in TrAMS as appropriate 
(see FTA Circular 5010.1E, Award Management Requirements). Unless 
specifically waived, recipients must comply with all applicable Federal 
statutes, regulations, executive orders, FTA circulars, and other 
Federal requirements in carrying out the project supported by the FTA 
grant, including FTA's Buy America requirements.
    Recipients must follow all third-party procurement guidance as 
described in FTA Circular 4220.1F Third Party Contracting Guidance.

    Issued in Washington, DC, this 3rd day of November 2017.

K. Jane Williams,
Acting Administrator, Federal Transit Administration.
Heath Hall,
Acting Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration.

                       Table 1--Fiscal Year 2017 Positive Train Control Project Selections
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      State             Recipient                  Project ID              Project description     Grant  amount
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CA...............  Peninsula Corridor   D2017-PTCP-014.................  This project will dual      $21,680,000
                    Joint Powers Board                                    equip seven Caltrain
                    (JPB).                                                trains with
                                                                          Incremental Train
                                                                          Control System (ITCS)
                                                                          and Interoperable
                                                                          Electronic Train
                                                                          Management System (I-
                                                                          ETMS) to provide
                                                                          service for
                                                                          approximately 32 miles
                                                                          from south of San Jose
                                                                          to Gilroy, CA on Union
                                                                          Pacific Railroad
                                                                          (UPRR) territory.
CA...............  Southern California  D2017-PTCP-015.................  This project will             3,200,000
                    Regional Rail                                         develop, test, and
                    Authority (SCRRA).                                    deploy tools and
                                                                          processes to improve
                                                                          the reliability,
                                                                          efficiency, and
                                                                          security of SCRRA's
                                                                          Interoperable
                                                                          Electronic Train
                                                                          Management System (I-
                                                                          ETMS) PTC with an
                                                                          upgrade from a non-
                                                                          vital to a vital
                                                                          overlay system across
                                                                          249 miles in the
                                                                          greater Los Angeles
                                                                          region of Southern
                                                                          California.
FL...............  South Florida        D2017-PTCP-006.................  This project will            31,633,176
                    Regional                                              complete the
                    Transportation                                        installation of the
                    Authority (SFRTA).                                    established
                                                                          Interoperable
                                                                          Electronic Train
                                                                          Management System
                                                                          (I[hyphen]ETMS) PTC
                                                                          technology consisting
                                                                          of wayside interface
                                                                          units, near side
                                                                          station controls, base
                                                                          radio stations, a back
                                                                          office server,
                                                                          on[hyphen]board PTC
                                                                          kits, and a crew
                                                                          training simulator on
                                                                          the South Florida Rail
                                                                          Corridor.
FL...............  Florida Department   D2017-PTCP-007.................  This project will             1,841,153
                    of Transportation                                     implement the
                    (FDOT).                                               Interoperable
                                                                          Electronic Train
                                                                          Management System (I-
                                                                          ETMS) computer-aided
                                                                          dispatch system, track
                                                                          database, and
                                                                          communication network,
                                                                          along 110 miles of the
                                                                          Central Florida Rail
                                                                          Corridor.
IL...............  Commuter Rail        D2017-PTCP-008.................  This project comprises       20,168,000
                    Division of the                                       three subprojects that
                    RTA (Metra).                                          include the
                                                                          installation of
                                                                          wayside PTC signals,
                                                                          reconfiguration of
                                                                          signals, and upgrade
                                                                          of existing PTC
                                                                          Automatic Block
                                                                          Signaling systems on
                                                                          Metra's Milwaukee
                                                                          District West and
                                                                          North lines in
                                                                          Illinois.
IL...............  Illinois Department  D2017-PTCP-009.................  This project will            18,869,888
                    of Transportation                                     complete the design,
                    (IDOT).                                               delivery,
                                                                          installation, testing,
                                                                          and certification of a
                                                                          fully integrated
                                                                          Interoperable
                                                                          Electronic Train
                                                                          Management System (I-
                                                                          ETMS) PTC on two
                                                                          contractual routes for
                                                                          Amtrak's use that
                                                                          comprise 14.7 route
                                                                          miles of Terminal
                                                                          Railroad Association
                                                                          of St. Louis (TRRA)
                                                                          right-of-way into and
                                                                          out of St. Louis,
                                                                          Missouri.
MA...............  Massachusetts Bay    D2017-PTCP-001.................  This project will             7,815,963
                    Transportation                                        include the
                    Authority (MBTA).                                     installation of a back
                                                                          office system for PTC
                                                                          that consists of an
                                                                          existing Cab Signaling
                                                                          System (CSS) with
                                                                          Automatic Train
                                                                          Control (ATC)
                                                                          supplemented by the
                                                                          addition of the latest
                                                                          revision to the
                                                                          Advanced Civil Speed
                                                                          Enforcement System II
                                                                          (ACSES II) for the
                                                                          MBTA.
MD...............  Maryland Transit     D2017-PTCP-004.................  This project includes         9,440,000
                    Administration                                        installing
                    (MTA).                                                Interoperable
                                                                          Electronic Train
                                                                          Management System (I-
                                                                          ETMS) PTC within the
                                                                          Northeast Corridor
                                                                          along MARC's tracks,
                                                                          and equipping 11 MARC
                                                                          2A cab cars with I-
                                                                          ETMS. The work will be
                                                                          on the Penn Line
                                                                          between Washington,
                                                                          D.C. Union Station and
                                                                          the northern limits of
                                                                          MARC service at
                                                                          Perryville, MD, a
                                                                          total distance of
                                                                          approximately 77
                                                                          directional miles.
MO...............  Missouri Department  D2017-PTCP-012.................  This project will            12,024,877
                    of Transportation                                     design, deliver,
                    (MoDOT).                                              install, test, and
                                                                          certify a fully
                                                                          integrated and
                                                                          functional
                                                                          Interoperable
                                                                          Electronic Train
                                                                          Management System (I-
                                                                          ETMS) PTC over
                                                                          approximately 8.5
                                                                          route miles of Kansas
                                                                          City Terminal Railway
                                                                          right-of-way where
                                                                          Amtrak operates in the
                                                                          Kansas City
                                                                          metropolitan region of
                                                                          Missouri.
NJ...............  New Jersey Transit   D2017-PTCP-002.................  This project will            10,000,000
                    Corporation (NJ                                       implement New Jersey
                    Transit).                                             Transit's PTC Phase
                                                                          III, which involves
                                                                          the purchase of
                                                                          onboard equipment
                                                                          kits, along with the
                                                                          installation, testing,
                                                                          and commissioning of
                                                                          the equipment on a
                                                                          total of 440
                                                                          locomotives, electric
                                                                          mobile units, and cab
                                                                          cars.
NM...............  Rio Metro Regional   D2017-PTCP-010.................  This project will             3,600,000
                    Transit District                                      include the
                    (Rio Metro).                                          installation of the
                                                                          Interoperable
                                                                          Electronic Train
                                                                          Management System (I-
                                                                          ETMS) PTC onboard
                                                                          technology on nine
                                                                          locomotives.

[[Page 52097]]

 
NY...............  New York State       D2017-PTCP-003.................  This project will            33,749,974
                    Department of                                         implement Advanced
                    Transportation                                        Civil Speed
                    (NYSDOT).                                             Enforcement System
                                                                          (ACSES) PTC on the
                                                                          Amtrak controlled
                                                                          section of the Empire
                                                                          Corridor Hudson Line,
                                                                          a Federally Designated
                                                                          High Speed Rail
                                                                          Corridor, which spans
                                                                          multiple jurisdictions
                                                                          along its 94 miles
                                                                          from Poughkeepsie to
                                                                          Hoffmans, New York.
OR...............  Oregon Department    D2017-PTCP-016.................  This project will             1,200,000
                    of Transportation                                     install and test PTC
                    (ODOT).                                               equipment on two Talgo
                                                                          Series 8 trainsets
                                                                          owned by ODOT and
                                                                          operated by Amtrak for
                                                                          the regional Amtrak
                                                                          Cascades intercity
                                                                          passenger rail service
                                                                          connecting Eugene,
                                                                          Oregon to Vancouver,
                                                                          British Columbia.
OR...............  Tri-County           D2017-PTCP-017.................  This project will             2,704,000
                    Metropolitan                                          implement two PTC
                    Transportation                                        safety modifications
                    District of Oregon                                    on the 15 mile long
                    (TriMet).                                             Westside Express (WES)
                                                                          commuter rail corridor
                                                                          from Wilsonville to
                                                                          Beaverton, Oregon. The
                                                                          first modification is
                                                                          designed to positively
                                                                          stop a train in
                                                                          advance of a
                                                                          malfunctioning grade
                                                                          crossing, and the
                                                                          second modification
                                                                          will stop a train
                                                                          prior to a work zone
                                                                          or limit speed
                                                                          throughout the work
                                                                          zone.
PA...............  Southeastern         D2017-PTCP-005.................  This project will             5,800,000
                    Pennsylvania                                          install the Advanced
                    Transportation                                        Civil Speed
                    Authority (SEPTA).                                    Enforcement System
                                                                          (ACSES II) PTC System
                                                                          along a 3-mile portion
                                                                          of restored Regional
                                                                          Rail service from
                                                                          Elwyn to Wawa,
                                                                          Pennsylvania, and
                                                                          deploy an onboard
                                                                          survey map software
                                                                          that contains the
                                                                          physical
                                                                          characteristics of the
                                                                          railroad that dictate
                                                                          train operating speeds
                                                                          throughout SEPTA's
                                                                          rail network.
TX...............  Capital              D2017-PTCP-011.................  This project will             9,762,969
                    Metropolitan                                          install the PTC fiber
                    Transportation                                        backbone for an
                    Authority (Capital                                    Enhanced Automatic
                    Metro).                                               Train Control (E-ATC)
                                                                          PTC system on Capital
                                                                          Metro's approximately
                                                                          33 miles of its
                                                                          commuter rail
                                                                          territory in Austin,
                                                                          TX.
UT...............  Utah Transit         D2017-PTCP-013.................  This project involves         3,520,000
                    Authority (UTA).                                      the design and testing
                                                                          of a two-step No-Code
                                                                          Proceed system to
                                                                          assure the safe
                                                                          operation of UTA's
                                                                          FrontRunner Enhanced
                                                                          Automated Train
                                                                          Control (E-ATC) PTC on
                                                                          its two mainline track
                                                                          segments from Provo to
                                                                          Ogden and Ogden to
                                                                          Pleasant View, Utah.
                                                                                                 ---------------
    Total........  ...................  ...............................  .......................    $197,010,000
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[FR Doc. 2017-24364 Filed 11-8-17; 8:45 am]
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