[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 195 (Wednesday, October 7, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63351-63352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-22203]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2020-0075]


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this 
document provides the public notice that on September 15, 2020, 
Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) petitioned the 
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a waiver of compliance from 
certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations contained 
at 49 CFR part 229, Railroad Locomotive Safety Standards; 49 CFR part 
231, Railroad Safety Appliance Standards; and 49 CFR part 238, 
Passenger Equipment Safety Standards. FRA assigned the petition Docket 
Number FRA-2020-0075.
    Specifically, SCRRA is requesting relief from portions of 49 CFR 
229.47(b), Emergency brake valve; 231.14(a)(2), (b)-(d), (f), (g), 
Passenger-train cars without end platforms; and 238.305(c)(5), Interior 
calendar day mechanical inspection of passenger cars, for three new 
Fast Light Intercity and Regional Train (FLIRT) Diesel Multiple Unit 
(DMU) railcars manufactured by Stadler US.
    The new FLIRT DMU railcars are to undergo pre-revenue service 
testing on the SCRRA system and be used in revenue service on an 
extension of the SCRRA San Bernardino line known as the Redlands 
Passenger Rail Project (RPRP). The RPRP is a 9-mile rail corridor owned 
by the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA). Before 
the start of revenue service, SBCTA will transfer track responsibility 
and vehicle ownership to SCRRA. The RPRP will have five station stops 
beginning at the San Bernardino--Downtown station and ending at the 
Redlands--University station.
    SCRRA asserts that the FLIRT trainset is a service-proven design 
based on

[[Page 63352]]

European standards. It further states that the design features subject 
to this request are identical to those on FLIRT vehicles in service at 
TexRail in Fort Worth, Texas. SCRRA believes that the design 
characteristics of the Stadler FLIRT vehicles provide an equivalent or 
higher level of safety and security to the passengers and crew.
    SCRRA also requests that FRA exercise its authority under 49 U.S.C. 
20306 to exempt SCRRA from certain statutory provisions of 49 U.S.C. 
Chapter 203, because the FLIRT DMU vehicles will be equipped with their 
own array of safety devices resulting in equivalent safety.
    A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications 
concerning the petition, is available for review online at 
www.regulations.gov.
    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 (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, W12-140, Washington, DC 
20590.
     Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Room W12-140, 
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal Holidays.
    Communications received by November 23, 2020 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.). Under 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 https://www.transportation.gov/privacy. See also https://www.regulations.gov/privacyNotice for the privacy notice of regulations.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-22203 Filed 10-6-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P