Document ID: FRA-2019-0085-0004
Agency: fra
Document Type: Notice
Title: Petition for Special Approval of Alternative Compliance
Posted Date: 2020-01-09T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 6 (Thursday, January 9, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1193-1194]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00126]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2019-0085]

Petition for Special Approval of Alternative Compliance

    Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and 49 
CFR 238.21, this provides the public notice that on October 16, 2019, 
the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) petitioned the 
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a special approval of 
alternative compliance pursuant to the requirements in 49 CFR part 238, 
Passenger Equipment Safety Standards. FRA assigned the petition Docket 
Number FRA-2019-0085.
    Specifically, Caltrans seeks relief from 49 CFR 238.135(b), which 
requires that all passenger train exterior side doors and trap doors 
must be closed when a train is in motion between stations. Caltrans 
seeks special approval of alternative compliance to allow variations in 
the operating of boarding stair trap doors for its fleet of single-
level coach, cab cars and caf[eacute]/vending cars built by Siemens, 
due to the cars' unique construction.

[[Page 1194]]

    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 
Ave., 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 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 February 24, 2020 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. 2020-00126 Filed 1-8-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P