[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 147 (Wednesday, July 31, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 61576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-16811]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2010-0054]


Alaska Railroad's Request To Amend Its Positive Train Control 
Safety Plan and Positive Train Control System

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 July 
18, 2024, Alaska Railroad (ARR) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) 
to its FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety Plan (PTCSP). As this 
RFA involves a request for FRA's approval of proposed material 
modifications to an FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system, 
FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on the 
railroad's RFA to its PTCSP.

DATES: FRA will consider comments received by August 20, 2024. FRA may 
consider comments received after that date to the extent practicable 
and without delaying implementation of valuable or necessary 
modifications to 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-2010-0054. For convenience, all active PTC 
dockets are hyperlinked on FRA's website at https://railroads.dot.gov/research-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. Before making certain changes to an FRA-
certified PTC system or the associated FRA-approved PTCSP, a host 
railroad must submit, and obtain FRA's approval of, an RFA to its PTCSP 
under 49 CFR 236.1021.
    Under 49 CFR 236.1021(e), FRA's regulations provide that FRA will 
publish a notice in the Federal Register and invite public comment in 
accordance with 49 CFR part 211, if an RFA includes a request for 
approval of a material modification of a signal or train control 
system. Accordingly, this notice informs the public that, on July 18, 
2024, ARR submitted an RFA to its PTCSP for its Interoperable 
Electronic Train Management System (I-ETMS), which seeks FRA's approval 
of ARR's proposed I-ETMS onboard software upgrade. The upgrade includes 
changes and enhancements to software functionality to improve 
operational efficiencies in managing high volumes of passenger traffic 
during Alaska's tourist season. That RFA is available in Docket No. 
FRA-2010-0054.
    Interested parties are invited to comment on ARR's RFA to its PTCSP 
by submitting written comments or data. During FRA's review of this 
railroad's RFA, FRA will consider any comments or data submitted within 
the timeline specified in this notice and to the extent practicable, 
without delaying implementation of valuable or necessary modifications 
to a PTC system. See 49 CFR 236.1021; see also 49 CFR 236.1011(e). 
Under 49 CFR 236.1021, FRA maintains the authority to approve, approve 
with conditions, or deny a railroad's RFA to its PTCSP at FRA's 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. 2024-16811 Filed 7-30-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P