Document ID: FRA-2019-0043-0002
Agency: fra
Document Type: Notice
Title: Application for Approval of Discontinuance or Modification of a Railroad Signal System
Posted Date: 2019-06-11T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 112 (Tuesday, June 11, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 27185]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-12235]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2019-0043]

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

    Under part 235 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 
and 49 U.S.C. 20502(a), this document provides the public notice that 
by a document dated May 23, 2019, Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) 
petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) seeking approval 
to discontinue or modify a signal system. FRA assigned the petition 
Docket Number FRA-2019-0043.
    Applicant: Union Pacific Railroad Company, Mr. Neal E. Hathaway, 
AVP Engineering--Signal & Telecom, 1400 Douglas Street, MS 0910, Omaha, 
NE 68179.
    Specifically, UP requests approval to discontinue cab signals 
between control point (CP) S001 at milepost (MP) 0.60 and CP S082 at MP 
81.60 on the Portland subdivision in the state of Oregon.
    UP states the reason for the proposed discontinuance is a positive 
train control (PTC) system, compliant with 49 CFR part 236, subpart I, 
and certified accordingly, was placed in service on the entire Portland 
subdivision, including the limits described above, in March 2017. Since 
that time, over 2.5 million train-miles of PTC operations have been 
accumulated on the Portland subdivision without a critical anomaly. 
Additionally, PTC operations have been conducted under the provisions 
of a waiver, Docket Number FRA-2016-0108, which allows for the use of 
PTC in lieu of cab signals on the Portland subdivision and elsewhere on 
UP where automatic cab signal (ACS), automatic train control, and 
automatic train stop systems are present.
    To ensure that an equivalent or greater level of safety is 
maintained upon discontinuance of the ACS and to meet the requirements 
of 49 U.S.C. 20157(j)(1), UP asserts it will promulgate operating rules 
requiring that any train on which PTC fails to initialize, cuts out, or 
malfunctions comply with operating restrictions in accordance with 49 
CFR 236.1029, while operating within former ACS limits of the Portland 
subdivision. UP explains it believes that the combination of the 
current levels of PTC reliability and, utilization, combined with the 
application of operating restrictions under failure conditions result 
in a level of safe operation which justifies discontinuance of the ACS 
system on the Portland subdivision.
    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 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 by any of the following 
methods:
     Website: 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 26, 2019 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.). 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.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
John Karl Alexy,
Acting Associate Administrator, Office of Railroad Safety.
[FR Doc. 2019-12235 Filed 6-10-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P