[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 4, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 6168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-02159]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2004-20000]


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR), this document provides the public notice that by a document 
dated September 17, 2014, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has 
petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a waiver of 
compliance from certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety 
regulations contained at 49 CFR part 229-Railroad Locomotive Safety 
Standards and Part 234-Grade Crossing Safety, Including Signal Systems, 
State Action Plans, and Emergency Notification Systems. FRA assigned 
the petition Docket Number FRA-2004-20000.
    DART, located in Dallas, TX, seeks an extension of its waiver of 
compliance from certain regulations for continued operation of its 
rail-fixed guide way public transit lines that share a ``limited 
connection'' with the general railroad system, specifically with the 
Dallas Garland and Northeastern Railroad (DGNO). This request is 
consistent with the requirements set forth in the Statement of Agency 
Policy Concerning Jurisdiction Over the Safety of Railroad Passenger 
Operations and Waivers Related to Shared Use of the Tracks of the 
General Railroad System by Light Rail and Conventional Equipment, 65 FR 
42529 (July 10, 2000); see also Joint Statement of Agency Policy 
Concerning Shared Use of the Tracks of the General Railroad System by 
Conventional Railroads and Light Rail Transit Systems, 65 FR 42626 
(July 10, 2000).
    DART is expanding its light rail operations, and will double in 
size to 93 miles. To date, the final 2.6 miles of expanded service are 
scheduled for completion in 2016. Expansion includes various lines that 
feature some shared corridor operations with DGNO, with up to 50 or 
more total limited connections at shared highway-rail grade crossings.
    Therefore, DART is seeking an extension of the terms and conditions 
of its current waiver of compliance from the provisions of 49 CFR 
229.125-Headlights and auxiliary lights and 49 CFR 234.105-Activation 
failure. DART claims that no modifications or changes have occurred 
since the first waiver was granted on May 2, 2005, and extended for 5 
years in April 2010. DART also states in its petition that ``since 
2010, there is no record of any accidents or safety-related incidents 
that occurred in these shared corridor portions covered by the 
regulations where these waivers are being requested.''
    A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications 
concerning the petition, is available for review online at 
www.regulations.gov and in person at the U.S. Department of 
Transportation's (DOT) Docket Operations Facility, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE., W12-140, Washington, DC 20590. The Docket Operations 
Facility is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal Holidays.
    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-
2004-20000) and may be submitted by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Web site: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail: Docket Operations Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., W12-140, Washington, DC 
20590.
    <bullet> 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 date will be considered as far as practicable.
    Anyone is able to search the electronic form of any written 
communications and comments received into any of our 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.). 
In accordance with 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 www.dot.gov/privacy. 
See also http://www.regulations.gov/#!privacyNotice for the privacy 
notice of regulations.gov or interested parties may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477).

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 28, 2015.
Ron Hynes,
Director, Office of Technical Oversight.
[FR Doc. 2015-02159 Filed 2-3-15; 8:45 am]
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