Document ID: FRA-2011-0101-0016
Agency: fra
Document Type: Notice
Title: Petition for Waiver of Compliance; Extension
Posted Date: 2023-06-02T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 106 (Friday, June 2, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36360-36361]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11786]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2011-0101]

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 by letters dated March 20, 
2023, and May 11, 2023, the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter 
Railroad Corporation (Metra) petitioned the Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA)

[[Page 36361]]

for an extension of a waiver of compliance from certain provisions of 
the Federal railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR part 236 
(Rules, Standards, and Instructions Governing the Installation, 
Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair of Signal and Train Control 
Systems, Devices, and Appliances). The relevant FRA Docket Number is 
FRA-2011-0101.
    Specifically, Metra requested an extension of relief from Sec.  
236.377, Approach locking; Sec.  236.378, Time locking; Sec.  236.379, 
Route locking; Sec.  236.380, Indication locking; and Sec.  236.281, 
Traffic locking, to extend the periodic testing schedules from ``at 
least once every 2 years'' to ``at least once every 4 years'' after 
initial testing has been performed. The relief applies at 
interlockings, control points, and other signal locations controlled by 
vital microprocessor-based equipment. In support of its request, Metra 
states that it will ``remain in compliance with all conditions of the 
FRA extension approval letter dated September 24, 2018. Metra's 
petition also included a list of locations that have been ``tested 
under the waiver from 2022 to present with the results and baseline 
comparison.''
    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.
    All communications concerning these proceedings should identify the 
appropriate docket number and may be submitted at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
    Communications received by August 1, 2023 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 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.). Under 5 U.S.C. 553(c), the U.S. Department of 
Transportation (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. 2023-11786 Filed 6-1-23; 8:45 am]
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