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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 249 (Monday, December 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 106730-106731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-31055]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2009-0072]

Petition for Extension of Waiver of Compliance

    Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this 
document provides the public notice that on October 8, 2024, Tri-County 
Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) petitioned the 
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for an extension of a waiver of 
compliance from certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety 
regulations contained at

[[Page 106731]]

49 CFR part 222 (Use of Locomotive Horns at Public Highway-Rail Grade 
Crossings). The relevant Docket Number is FRA-2009-0072.
    Specifically, TriMet seeks an extension of relief from Sec. Sec.  
222.21(a) and 222.21(b)(2), which require locomotive horns to be 
sounded when approaching public highway-rail grade crossings, using the 
``long-long-short-long'' pattern that begins 15 to 20 seconds before 
the locomotive reaches the crossing, but no further than \1/4\ mile 
from the crossing. The current waiver permits TriMet to use a 60 dB(A) 
locomotive bell in lieu of the locomotive horn at three crossings on 
the Lombard segment of TriMet's Westside Express Service (WES) in 
Beaverton, Oregon.
    In support of its petition, TriMet stated that the three crossings 
are equipped with flashing lights, bells, and either traffic signals or 
crossing gates. Further, TriMet stated that ``WES train speeds are 
positively enforced at a maximum of 10 [miles per hour] along the 
Lombard segment,'' which includes the three crossings. TriMet 
additionally noted that the waiver relief ``has not been the cause of 
any accidents, nor has it created any safety hazards at or near the 
specified crossings.''
    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 parties 
desire 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.
    All communications concerning these proceedings should identify the 
appropriate docket number and may be submitted at www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
    Communications received by February 28, 2025 will be considered by 
FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date 
will be considered if practicable.
    Anyone can search the electronic form of any written communications 
and comments received into any of the U.S. Department of 
Transportation's (DOT) 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.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-31055 Filed 12-27-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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