Document ID: FRA-2012-0075-0004
Agency: fra
Document Type: Notice
Title: Petitions for Approval: Port Authority Trans-Hudson Product Safety Plan
Posted Date: 2012-10-19T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 203 (Friday, October 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 64374]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-25785]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2012-0075]

Notification of Petition for Approval; Port Authority Trans-
Hudson Product Safety Plan

    In accordance with Part 236 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 September 5, 2012, Port Authority Trans-Hudson 
(PATH) has petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) seeking 
approval for a Product Safety Plan (PSP). FRA assigned the petition 
Docket Number FRA-2012-0075.
    PATH is upgrading some of its track circuits with Digicode 
microprocessor-based track circuits. The Digicode track circuit is part 
of Alstom's Smartway Digital Track Circuit product line and will be 
used by PATH for train detection and broken rail detection. While this 
product has been successfully implemented elsewhere in the world, it 
has only been used on transit systems in the United States, and never 
on a U.S. general system railroad. The Digicode track circuits are 
functional replacements for the existing track circuits and the product 
has been chosen by PATH to replace existing, older technology track 
circuits. The existing product is experiencing end-of-life obsolescence 
issues and parts are becoming difficult to procure. The implementation 
of the Digicode track circuits will provide for higher reliability and 
lower overall operating and maintenance costs. PATH asserts that the 
PSP demonstrates that Digicode has been designed in a highly safe 
manner and meets the requirements of 49 CFR part 236, subpart H-
Standards for Processor-Based Signal and Train Control Systems. The PSP 
itself provides the detailed description of the Digicode track circuit 
product design.
    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 December 3, 2012 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 comment, 
if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 
Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 
19477-78), or online at http://www.dot.gov/privacy.html.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 15, 2012.
Robert C. Lauby,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Regulatory and Legislative 
Operations.
[FR Doc. 2012-25785 Filed 10-18-12; 8:45 am]
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