[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 174 (Monday, September 11, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 62427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-19519]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2018-0012]


TEXRail and the Silver Line's Joint Request for Approval To 
Conduct Positive Train Control Field Testing

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This document provides the public with notice that on August 
30, 2023, TEXRail submitted a request together with the Silver Line 
(SLVR) to field test trains on TEXRail's positive train control (PTC)-
equipped territory, which is equipped with the Interoperable Electronic 
Train Management System (I-ETMS). FRA is publishing this notice and 
inviting public comment on TEXRail and SLVR's joint request to test I-
ETMS.

DATES: FRA will consider comments received by November 13, 2023. FRA 
may consider comments received after that date to the extent 
practicable and without delaying testing or implementation of a PTC 
system.

ADDRESSES: 
    Comments: Comments may be submitted by going to https://www.regulations.gov and following the online instructions for 
submitting comments.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and the 
applicable docket number. The relevant PTC docket number for this host 
railroad is Docket No. FRA-2018-0012. For convenience, all active PTC 
documents are hyperlinked on FRA's website at https://railroads.dot.gov/reserch-development/program-areas/train-control/ptc/railroads-ptc-dockets. All comments received will be posted without 
change to https://www.regulations.gov; this includes any personal 
information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gabe Neal, Staff Director, Signal, 
Train Control, and Crossings Division, telephone: 816-516-7168, email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In general, title 49 United States Code 
(U.S.C.) section 20157(h) requires FRA to certify that a host 
railroad's PTC system complies with title 49 Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) part 236, subpart I, before the technology may be 
operated in revenue service. On December 23, 2020, FRA certified 
TEXRail's I-ETMS PTC system under 49 CFR 236.1015 and 49 U.S.C. 
20157(h). Pursuant to 49 CFR 236.1035, a railroad must obtain FRA's 
approval before field testing an uncertified PTC system, or a product 
of an uncertified PTC system, or any regression testing of a certified 
PTC system on the general rail system. See 49 CFR 236.1035(a). The 
joint test request, including a complete description of the Concept of 
Operations and specific test procedures that document the measures that 
will be taken to ensure safety during testing, are available for review 
online at https://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FRA-2018-0012.
    Interested parties are invited to comment on the test request by 
submitting written comments or data. During its review of the test 
request, FRA will consider any comments or data submitted within the 
timeline specified in this notice and to the extent practicable. FRA, 
however, may elect not to respond to any particular comment, and under 
49 CFR 236.1035, FRA maintains the authority to approve, approve with 
conditions, or deny the test request at its sole discretion.

Privacy Act Notice

    In accordance with 49 CFR 211.3, FRA solicits comments from the 
public to better inform its decisions. DOT posts these comments, 
without edit, including any personal information the commenter 
provides, to https://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 https://www.regulations.gov/privacy-notice for the privacy notice of regulations.gov. To facilitate 
comment tracking, we encourage commenters to provide their name, or the 
name of their organization; however, submission of names is completely 
optional. If you wish to provide comments containing proprietary or 
confidential information, please contact FRA for alternate submission 
instructions.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
Carolyn R. Hayward-Williams,
Director, Office of Railroad Systems and Technology.
[FR Doc. 2023-19519 Filed 9-8-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P