Document ID: FRA-2013-0059-0003
Agency: fra
Document Type: Notice
Title: Modification of a Railroad Signal System; Discontinuance Applications
Posted Date: 2013-06-21T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 120 (Friday, June 21, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37656-37657]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14898]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2013-0059]

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 
(CFR) and 49 U.S.C. 20502(a), this document provides the public notice 
that by a document dated April 12, 2013, the Long Island Rail Road 
(LIRR) has petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) seeking 
approval for the discontinuance or modification of a signal system. FRA 
assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2013-0059.
    Applicant: Long Island Rail Road, Mr. Kevin Tomlinson, Chief 
Engineer, Jamaica Station, Jamaica, New York 11435.
    LIRR seeks approval of the proposed modification of the railroad 
signal interlocking systems at DB & Cabin M drawbridges on the Montauk 
Branch in Long Island City, NY. The DB and Cabin M drawbridges are on 
the JCC Operating Division, with DB being on the C Secondary Track, 
near Dutch Kills Bridge Station, and Cabin M being on the Montauk 
Cutoff Secondary Track, near Bliss Station.
    The modification includes the removal of all associated locking 
devices from the interlocking signal circuitry due to the installation 
of straight rail over both drawbridges, which permanently rendered the 
drawbridges fixed in place and no longer operable.
    The reason for the proposed modifications is that the DB and Cabin 
M drawbridges were straight railed in September 2009, after the 
waterway had stopped being used. Both drawbridges had deteriorated, and 
funding for repair or replacement could not be secured. The remaining 
locking devices, including rail locks, wedges, and rail lifts, are no 
longer necessary due to the replacement of the mitered rail with 
straight rails, fixating the drawbridges in place. The drawbridges 
remain protected by track circuits interlocked with eastward and 
westward signals.
    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 August 5, 2013 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 Federal Register published on April 11, 
2000 (65 FR 19477).

[[Page 37657]]

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 17, 2013.
Robert C. Lauby,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Regulatory and Legislative 
Operations.
[FR Doc. 2013-14898 Filed 6-20-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P