Document ID: FRA-2020-0090-0003
Agency: fra
Document Type: Notice
Title: Application: Approval of Discontinuance or Modification of a Railroad Signal System
Posted Date: 2020-12-11T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 239 (Friday, December 11, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 80225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27268]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2020-0090]

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 
November 19, 2020, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) 
petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) seeking approval 
to discontinue or modify a signal system. FRA assigned the petition 
Docket Number FRA-2020-0090.
Applicant: National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Nicholas J. Croce 
III, PE, Deputy Chief Engineer, C&S, 2995 Market Street, Philadelphia, 
PA 19104.
    Specifically, Amtrak requests permission to convert approximately 3 
miles of its cab signal and fixed automatic block signal system to a 
signal system having cab signals without fixed automatic block signals, 
operated under NORAC Rule 562, on Amtrak's Mid-Atlantic Division, Main 
Line Philadelphia to Washington, Northeast Corridor, between Bush 
interlocking located at milepost (MP) 71.6, in Perryman, Maryland, and 
Wood interlocking located at MP 75.3, in Edgewood, Maryland. Amtrak is 
the owner and operator of this line. Maryland Area Regional Commuter 
Train Service and Norfolk Southern Railway operate on portions of this 
line as tenants with trackage rights. Both have concurred with the 
application.
    The changes proposed are to remove the wayside signals on Tracks 
No. 2 and No. 3 at automatic block points 733 and 744. Both locations 
will remain in service as a block point without wayside signals.
    The reason for removal of the signals is to eliminate maintenance 
and operation of unnecessary hardware and to reduce delays to trains 
caused by failures of the signals.
    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 (DOT), 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 January 25, 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. 2020-27268 Filed 12-10-20; 8:45 am]
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