Document ID: FRA-2014-0045-0003
Agency: fra
Document Type: Notice
Title: Applications: Railroad Signal Systems; Discontinuances or Modifications
Posted Date: 2014-06-02T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 105 (Monday, June 2, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 31400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-12625]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2014-0045]

Notice of Application for Approval of Discontinuance or 
Modification of a Railroad Signal System

    In accordance with Part 235 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR) and 49 U.S.C. 20502(a), this document provides the public notice 
that by a document dated April 29, 2014, the Wisconsin Central Limited 
(WC) petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) seeking 
approval for the discontinuance or modification of a signal system. FRA 
assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2014-0045.
    Applicant: Wisconsin Central Limited, Mr. Thomas L. Brasseur, 
Manager S&C, Engineering Department, Southern Region, 1625 Depot 
Street, Stevens Point, WI 54481.
    WC, a subsidiary of Canadian National Railway (CN), seeks approval 
of the proposed discontinuance and removal of a traffic control system 
(TCS) between Milepost (MP) 1.7, (North Collingwood) and MP 1.0 (South 
Collingwood) on the Missabe Subdivision, Duluth, MN. The TCS will be 
removed between northward approach signals A8R, A6R, and A18R and the 
Collingwood northward absolute signals. All TCS listed will be changed 
to yard limits. Control Points (CP) North Collingwood, Collingwood, and 
South Collingwood will be reconfigured into one, CP Collingwood, by the 
elimination of existing controlled switches, the installation of a new 
controlled switch, and the removal of controlled signals that govern 
movements over track with no associated switches. New TCS limits will 
begin and end at CP Collingwood.
    The reason for the proposed changes is that the northward signals 
and the associated track circuits for the approach to Collingwood 
present a safety hazard to employees as well as the motoring public on 
Interstate 35 (I-35). Part of this section is located on the ore docks 
over I-35, which results in no place of safety in which an employee can 
clear the tracks due to the drop-off on each side. If an employee were 
to slip and fall, the fall could potentially be onto I-35. Any material 
or equipment accidentally dropped could fall to I-35 striking vehicular 
traffic.
    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 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 by July 17, 2014 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.). 
See 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 May 27, 2014.
Robert C. Lauby.
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-12625 Filed 5-30-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P