[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 239 (Thursday, December 13, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64175-64176]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-27009]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2018-0078]


Notice of Application for Approval of Discontinuance or 
Modification of a Railroad Signal System

    Under part 235 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 
and 49 U.S.C. 20502(a), this document provides the public notice that 
on September 19, 2018, Pan Am Railways (PAR) petitioned the Federal 
Railroad Administration (FRA) seeking approval to discontinue or modify 
a signal system. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2018-0078.
    Applicant: Pan Am Railways, Mr. Timothy R. Kunzler, AVP, 
Engineering, 1700 Iron Horse Park, No. Billerica, MA 01862.

[[Page 64176]]

    The applicant's corporate name is Springfield Terminal Railway 
Company (ST). The applicant is the operator of the line as lessor from 
Boston and Maine Corporation (BM), owner. Both the applicant and BM are 
wholly owned subsidiaries of PAR.
    ST seeks approval to discontinue the signal system on the single 
main track on the Northern Main Line between control point number (CPN) 
1 in Chelmsford, MA, and milepost number (MPN) 28.70 in Manchester, NH.
    ST proposes to discontinue the interlockings and associated 
appliances at CPN-9; CPN-13; CPN-18; CPN-20 and CPN-28. ST intends to 
replace the power-operated switch with a hand-operated switch at CPN-20 
and replace the spring switch with a hand-operated switch at CPN-9. ST 
seeks to discontinue block signals 306/307; 352/353; 144/145; 160/161; 
400/500; 539/540; and the block signal at MPN 28.70. ST plans to 
install holding signal, CPN-3, at MPN 28.70 and distant signal at MPN 
5.
    ST states the reasons for the proposed changes are that (1) no 
passenger service operates on the line; (2) traffic volumes do not 
warrant a traffic control system; (3) there are no active interchange 
points on this portion of the main line; and (4) to employ resources 
more effectively elsewhere.
    Operation over this territory will be conducted in accordance with 
Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Committee Form D Control System 
rules.
    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 parties 
desire an opportunity for oral comment and a public hearing, 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:
     Website: 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 January 28, 2019 will be considered by 
FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date 
will be considered if practicable.
    Anyone can 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.). In 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public 
to better inform its processes. DOT posts these comments, without edit, 
including any personal information the commenter provides, to 
www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/
ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at www.dot.gov/privacy. See also 
http://www.regulations.gov/#!privacyNotice for the privacy notice of 
regulations.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-27009 Filed 12-12-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P