Document ID: FRA-2021-0011-0003
Agency: fra
Document Type: Notice
Title: Application for Approval of Discontinuance or Modification of a Railroad Signal System
Posted Date: 2021-01-29T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 18 (Friday, January 29, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 7613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-01952]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2021-0011]

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

    Under part 235 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and 49 
U.S.C. 20502(a), this document provides the public notice that on 
January 14, 2021, 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-
2021-0011.

    Applicant: Union Pacific Railroad Company, Gregory M. Richardson, 
General Director--Train Control Systems, 1400 Douglas Street--MS 0480, 
Omaha, NE 68179.
    Specifically, UP requests permission to discontinue all automatic 
train control (ATC) and automatic cab signal (ACS) systems in service 
on UP on a segment-by-segment basis, commensurate with progress on 
completion of work to equip certain hand-operated switches in ATC/ACS 
territories as described in a plan submitted to FRA in December 2019. 
UP states that plan described the nature of the work and the safety 
benefits provided, and it was acknowledged by FRA in June 2020. UP 
explains a detailed schedule of this work is provided to FRA monthly 
under separate correspondence, and the work is planned to be completed 
during 2021.
    UP states the reason for discontinuance is that the operation of 
positive train control (PTC) in conjunction with both the equipping of 
non-electrically locked switches for PTC communication and the 
promulgation of operating rules governing operations in the case of PTC 
failures provide a level of safety exceeding that provided solely by 
the use of ATC/ACS systems. Since 2017, pursuant to provisions of the 
waiver in Docket Number FRA-2016-0108, UP has operated PTC in lieu of 
ATC/ACS in certain territories. Due to that waiver, the existing ATC 
and ACS systems have been largely unutilized for some time.
    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 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 Ave. SE, W12-140, Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Room W12-140, 
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal Holidays.
    Communications received by March 15, 2021 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), 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/privacyNotice for the 
privacy notice of regulations.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-01952 Filed 1-28-21; 8:45 am]
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