[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 206 (Thursday, October 24, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 84999-85000]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-24778]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2010-0029]


The National Railroad Passenger Corporation's Request To Amend 
Its 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 October 
12, 2024, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) 
submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-approved Positive 
Train Control Safety Plan (PTCSP) to install Construction Zone (CZ) 
transponders, which will result in the suspension of portions of its 
positive train control (PTC) system, to support the addition of Fitter 
Interlocking on the New Haven to Boston (NHB) line. This CZ is 
scheduled to be implemented December 7, 2024, for a duration not 
exceeding 30 days. As this RFA involves a request for FRA's approval of 
proposed material modifications to an FRA-certified PTC system, FRA is 
publishing this notice and inviting public comment on Amtrak's RFA to 
its PTC system.

DATES: FRA will consider comments received by November 13, 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-2010-0029. 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: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bbfcdad9de95f5dedad7fbdfd4cf95dcd4cd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2760464542096942464b6743485309404851">[email protected]</span></a>.

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 October 
12, 2024, Amtrak submitted an RFA to its PTCSP for its Advanced Civil 
Speed Enforcement System II (ACSES II), which seeks FRA's approval to 
install a CZ, which will result in the suspension of portions of its 
PTC system, to support the addition of Fitter Interlocking on the NHB 
line. This CZ is scheduled to be implemented December 7, 2024, for a 
duration not

[[Page 85000]]

exceeding 30 days. That RFA is available in Docket No. FRA-2010-0029.
    Interested parties are invited to comment on Amtrak's RFA by 
submitting written comments or data. During FRA's review of Amtrak'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 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. 2024-24778 Filed 10-23-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


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