[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 131 (Friday, July 11, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31107-31108]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-12944]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA-2025-0053]
Notice of Application for Approval of Discontinuance or
Modification of a Railroad Signal System
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This document provides the public notice that Northern
Illinois Commuter Railroad Corporation (Metra) petitioned FRA seeking
approval to discontinue or modify a signal system.
DATES: FRA must receive comments on the petition by August 11, 2025.
FRA will consider comments received after that date to the extent
practicable.
ADDRESSES:
Comments: Comments related to this docket 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
docket number. All comments received will be posted without change to
https://www.regulations.gov; this includes any personal information.
Please see the Privacy Act heading in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section of this document for Privacy Act information related to any
submitted comments or materials.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received, go to https://www.regulations.gov and follow the
online instructions for accessing the docket.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Johnson, Railroad Safety
Specialist, FRA Signal, Train Control, and Crossings Division,
telephone: 406-210-3608, email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under part 235 of title 49 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) and 49 U.S.C. 20502(a), this document provides the
public notice that by letter dated April 14, 2025, Metra petitioned FRA
seeking approval to discontinue or modify a signal system.\1\ FRA
assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2025-0053.
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\1\ Metra additionally requested relief from 49 CFR 236.566,
Locomotive of each train operating in train stop, train control or
cab signal territory; equipped.
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Specifically, Metra requests to discontinue the cab signal system
(CSS) on the Rock Island District on Tracks No. 1 and No. 2 from
milepost (MP) 15.58 to 39.03. In its petition, Metra states that the
concurrent use of automatic cab signals (ACS) and positive train
control (PTC), which are not integrated into the locomotives, ``could
confuse and distract the train crew due to differences in the content
of their displays, audible and visual alerts provided, and required
acknowledgement protocols.'' In addition, Metra states that the
reliability of PTC will be enhanced if the ACS equipment is removed,
and there are no other ACS territories adjacent to the subject area. To
support its request, Metra notes that it has not identified any
scenarios where PTC, in lieu of ACS, will result in a reduction of
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 party
desires 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.
Communications received by August 11, 2025 will be considered by
FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date
will be considered if practicable.
Privacy Act
Anyone can search the electronic form of any written communications
and comments received into any of FRA's 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/privacy-notice for the
privacy notice of regulations.gov.
[[Page 31108]]
Issued in Washington, DC.
John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2025-12944 Filed 7-10-25; 8:45 am]
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