82136 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 249 / Wednesday, December 29, 2010 / Notices 

ACTION: Notice of request for comments. 

SUMMARY: The FHWA invites public 

comments about our intention to request 

the Office of Management and Budget’s 

(OMB) approval of a new information 

collection that is summarized below 

under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. We 

are required to publish this notice in the 

Federal Register by the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995. 

DATES: Please submit comments by 

February 28, 2011. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

identified by DOT Docket ID Number 

2010–0171 by any of the following 

methods: 

Web Site: For access to the docket to 

read background documents or 

comments received go to the Federal 

eRulemaking Portal: Go to http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 

instructions for submitting comments. 

Fax: 1–202–493–2251. 

Mail: Docket Management Facility, 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 

West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 

Washington, DC 20590. 

Hand Delivery or Courier: U.S. 

Department of Transportation, West 

Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 

Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. 

and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Allen Greenberg at 

allen.greenberg@dot.gov or (202) 366– 

2425, Office of Operations, Federal 

Highway Administration, Department of 

Transportation, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue, SE. Washington, DC 20590, 

Monday through Friday, except Federal 

holidays. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: Exploratory Advanced Research 

(EAR) Program initial stage research on 

the topic of Dynamic Ridesharing. 

Background: The Exploratory 

Advanced Research (EAR) Program was 

established to conduct longer term, 

higher risk research that will result in 

potentially dramatic breakthroughs for 

improving the durability, efficiency, 

environmental performance, 

productivity, and safety of highway and 

intermodal transportation systems. To 

facilitate identification and assessment 

of higher-risk, breakthrough research 

topics, the Program conducts literature 

reviews, event scanning, and targeted 

convening. As part of an assessment of 

potential high-risk, breakthrough 

research on dynamic ridesharing, the 

EAR Program is conducting this 

collection of information on behavioral 

preferences using focus groups. 

As a response to the opening of High 

Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes in the 

Washington, D.C., metro area in the 

mid-1970s, a unique commuting 

phenomenon developed: ‘‘slugging.’’ 

This type of single-trip dynamic 

carpooling evolved from drivers and 

passengers coming together to fulfill 

each party’s needs (i.e., allowing drivers 

to meet HOV requirements and thus use 

the express travel lanes and riders to 

enjoy a free, fast trip to work). Academic 

and entrepreneurial types alike are 

looking at ways to facilitate dynamic 

ridesharing through technological 

means. Some suggestions for enhancing 

dynamic ridesharing include website 

forums that connect drivers with riders 

and Smartphone applications that 

would allow drivers and riders to 

register and connect with each other. 

These efforts build off of the success of 

three meeting-place based dynamic 

ridesharing systems that exist in 

Houston, San Francisco, and 

Washington, DC. These three systems 

have no formal leadership or 

management; rather they have evolved 

to fulfill a need for carpools created by 

the presence of HOV lanes. These 

naturally occurring dynamic ridesharing 

systems operate by having drivers and 

riders meet at central, easily accessible 

locations such as park and ride lots 

where they create instantaneous 

carpools based on desired destinations. 

The lines are highly successful and have 

existed for a long time (30+ years in the 

case of DC), and they are a critical 

component to these robust dynamic 

ridesharing systems which serve 

thousands of commuters each weekday. 

Despite their success and interesting 

nature, they have been severely 

understudied by academics and 

transportation professionals. Focus 

group participants will be recruited 

based on a number of criteria. The 

primary factor is whether participants 

have utilized dynamic carpooling, then 

the frequency of their use and finally 

whether they work for the federal 

government or private sector. 

Participants would not be representing 

their place of work, and they would be 

asked to participate as members of the 

public on their own time outside of 

work hours. 

Respondents: The Focus Group will 

send approximately 108 participants on 

a three-city tour (Washington, DC; San 

Francisco, CA; and Houston, TX) to 

study the informal, dynamic carpooling 

systems in each city. The government 

expects the contractor to recruit 

slugging/casual carpooling participants 

in each city. 

Frequency: Annually. 

Estimated Average Burden per 

Response: There will be approximately 

9 focus groups (3 in each city); with 

each group consisting of 12 participants 

with a time commitment of 1.5 hours 

each person. The screening for potential 

participants will take approximately 5 

minutes per person. There will be 

approximately 108 participants. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden 

Hours: The annual burden for the Focus 

Group would be between 162 hours. 

The annual burden for screening 

participants will be 9 hours. 

Annual Total = 171 hours. 

Public Comments Invited: You are 

asked to comment on any aspect of this 

information collection, including: (1) 

Whether the proposed collection is 

necessary for the FHWA’s performance; 

(2) the accuracy of the estimated 

burdens; (3) ways for the FHWA to 

enhance the quality, usefulness, and 

clarity of the collected information; and 

(4) ways that the burden could be 

minimized, including the use of 

electronic technology, without reducing 

the quality of the collected information. 

The agency will summarize and/or 

include your comments in the request 

for OMB’s clearance of this information 

collection. 

Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act 

of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended; 

and 49 CFR 1.48. 

Issued On: December 22, 2010. 

Judith Kane, 

Acting Chief, Management Programs and 

Analysis Division. 

[FR Doc. 2010–32723 Filed 12–28–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Railroad Administration 

[Docket No. FRA–1999–6439, Notice No. 22] 

Adjustment of Nationwide Significant 

Risk Threshold 

AGENCY: Federal Railroad 

Administration (FRA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of Adjustment of 

Nationwide Significant Risk Threshold. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with Appendix 

D to Title 49 Code of Federal 

Regulations (CFR) Part 222, Use of 

Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail 

Grade Crossings, FRA is updating the 

Nationwide Significant Risk Threshold 

(NSRT). This action is needed to ensure 

that the public has the proper threshold 

of permissible risk for calculating quiet 

zones established in relationship to the 

NSRT. This is the fourth update to the 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 249 / Wednesday, December 29, 2010 / Notices 82137 

NSRT, which has fallen from 18,775 to 

14,007. 

DATES: The effective date is December 

29, 2010. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

Ronald Ries, Office of Railroad Safety, 

FRA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 

Washington, DC 20590, (202) 493–6299, 

or Ronald.Ries@dot.gov; or Kathryn 

Shelton, Office of Chief Counsel, FRA, 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 

Washington, DC 20590, (202) 493–6038, 

or Kathryn.Shelton@dot.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The NSRT is an average of the risk 

indexes for gated public crossings 

nationwide where train horns are 

routinely sounded. FRA developed this 

risk index to serve as one threshold of 

permissible risk for quiet zones 

established under this rule across the 

nation. Thus, a community that is trying 

to establish and/or maintain its quiet 

zone, pursuant to 49 CFR part 222, can 

compare the Quiet Zone Risk Index 

calculated for its specific crossing 

corridor to the NSRT to determine 

whether sufficient measures have been 

taken to compensate for the excess risk 

that results from prohibiting routine 

sounding of the locomotive horn. (In the 

alternative, a community can establish 

its quiet zone in comparison to the Risk 

Index With Horns, which is a corridorspecific measure of risk to the motoring 

public when locomotive horns are 

routinely sounded at every public 

highway-rail grade crossing within the 

quiet zone.) 

In 2006, when the final rule titled, 

‘‘Use of Locomotive Horns at HighwayRail Grade Crossings,’’ was amended, 

the NSRT was 17,030 (71 FR 47614, 

August 17, 2006). In 2007, FRA 

recalculated the NSRT to be 19,047 (72 

FR 14850, March 29, 2007). In 2008, 

FRA recalculated the NSRT to be 17,610 

(73 FR 30661, May 28, 2008). In 2009, 

FRA recalculated the NSRT to be 18,775 

(74 FR 45270, September 1, 2009). 

New NSRT 

Using collision data from 2005 to 

2009, FRA has recalculated the NSRT 

based on formulas identified in 

Appendix D to 49 CFR Part 222. In 

making this recalculation, FRA noted 

that the total number of gated, nonwhistle-ban crossings was 41,326. 

Applying the fatality rate and injury rate 

to the probable number of fatalities and 

casualties predicted to occur at each of 

the 41,326 identified crossings and the 

predicted cost of the associated injuries 

and fatalities, FRA calculates the NSRT 

to be 14,007. 

Issued in Washington, DC, on December 

22, 2010. 

Jo Strang, 

Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety/ 

Chief Safety Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2010–32778 Filed 12–28–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–06–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Railroad Administration 

Notice of Application for Approval of 

Discontinuance or Modification of a 

Railroad Signal System 

Pursuant to Title 49 Code of Federal 

Regulations (CFR) Part 235 and 49 

U.S.C. 20502(a), the following railroad 

has petitioned the Federal Railroad 

Administration (FRA) seeking approval 

for the discontinuance or modification 

of a signal system, as detailed below. 

Docket Number FRA–2010–0175 

Applicant: Elgin, Joliet and Eastern 

Railway Company, Mr. Timothy 

Luhm, Manager S&C, 17641 South 

Ashland Avenue, Homewood, IL 

60430. 

The Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway 

Company (EJ&E) seeks approval of the 

proposed discontinuance of the traffic 

control system (TCS) on the Chicago 

Division near Gary, Indiana. The 

proposed discontinuance is from control 

point (CP) Kirk Yard Junction to, but not 

including, CP Stockton 2 on the 

Matteson Subdivision Main 1 and Main 

2; and from CP Kirk Yard Junction to, 

but not including, Stockton 1 on the 

Lake Front Subdivision Main Track. 

The discontinuance consist of the 

removal of the TCS on Main Track 1 and 

2 between milepost (MP) 44.44 and MP 

45.41 on the Chicago Division, Matteson 

Subdivision, and Main Track also 

known as the Lake Front Line between 

MP 11.19 and MP 12.10 on the Chicago 

Division, Lakefront Subdivision, as well 

as all tracks contained with CP Kirk 

Yard Junction between MP 45.41 and 

MP 45.66 on the Chicago Division, 

Matteson Subdivision. 

The reason given for the proposed 

change is that the TCS impedes train 

operation on these tracks due to the 

congestion in the area from the Kirk 

Yard operations. There are plans in 

place to change track and switch 

arrangements in this area to facilitate 

future operations at Kirk Yard. 

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, 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 (e.g., Waiver 

Petition Docket Number FRA–2010– 

1075) and may be submitted by any of 

the following methods: 

• Web site: 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 within 45 

days of the date of this notice will be 

considered by FRA before final action is 

taken. Comments received after that 


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