Document ID: FRA-2013-0135-0003
Agency: fra
Document Type: Notice
Title: Applications: Approval of Discontinuance or Modification of a Railroad Signal System
Posted Date: 2013-12-24T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 247 (Tuesday, December 24, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77786-77787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30538]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2013-0135]

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

    In accordance with Part 235 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations 
and 49 U.S.C. 20502(a), this document provides the public notice that 
by a document dated November 22, 2013, NJ Transit Rail Operations, Inc. 
(NJTRO), Norfolk Southern Corporation (NS), and Morristown and Erie 
Railway (ME) jointly petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration 
(FRA) seeking approval for the discontinuance or modification of a 
signal system. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2013-0135.
    Applicants:

NJ Transit Rail Operations, Inc., Mr. Timothy P. Purcell, Acting Chief 
Engineer--Signals, One Penn Plaza East, Newark, NJ 07105-2246
Norfolk Southern Corporation, Mr. Brian Sykes, Chief Engineer C&S 
Engineering, 1200 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
Morristown and Erie Railway, Mr. Wesley R. Weis, President and Chief 
Executive Officer, P.O. Box 2206, 49 Abbett Avenue, Morristown, NJ 
07962

    NJTRO, NS, and ME jointly seek approval of the proposed 
discontinuance of the automatic block signal (ABS) system on Track 
Number 2; the installation of a traffic control system (TCS) on Track 
Number 2; the discontinuance of automatic signals within TCS territory; 
and the retention of a cab signal system without wayside automatic 
signals on Track Numbers 1 and 2, between Control Point (CP) Wharton, 
Milepost (MP) 39.4 and Morris Junction Interlocking, MP 45.2 on NJTRO's 
Morristown Line, Hoboken Division, Morris County, NJ. Provisions will 
be made for absolute blocking to protect any train that may experience 
a failed cab signal after leaving its initial terminal. The 
discontinuance will include automatic signals: M 408-1, M 408-2, M 409-
1, M 424-1, M 424-2, M 423-1, M 438-1, M 438-2, and M 439-1.
    The reasons given for the proposed changes are to improve 
reliability and safety, expedite train movements, and retire facilities 
no longer required for present train operations.
    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 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 February 7, 2014 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 document, 
if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
See http://www.regulations.gov/#!privacyNotice for the privacy notice 
of regulations.gov or interested parties may review DOT's complete 
Privacy Act Statement in the

[[Page 77787]]

Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477).

Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-30538 Filed 12-23-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P