Document ID: FRA-2010-0154-0002
Agency: fra
Document Type: Rule
Title: Applications for Approval of Discontinuance or Modification of Railroad Signal System
Posted Date: 2010-12-07T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76069-76070]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-30533]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

 Docket Number FRA-2010-0154

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

    Pursuant to Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 235 and 
49 U.S.C. 20502(a), the following railroad has petitioned the Federal 
Railroad Administration (FRA) seeking approval for the discontinuance 
or modification of the signal system as detailed below.
    Applicant: Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company: Mr. John B. 
Mitchell, Deputy Chief of Engineering Operations, Massachusetts Bay 
Commuter Railroad Company, 32 Cobble Hill Road--Suite 3, Somerville, MA 
02143-4431.
    The Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company (MBCR) seeks 
approval of the proposed modification of the signal system on the 
Fitchburg Commuter Rail Line from milepost (MP) 1.4 Swift Interlocking, 
in Sommerville, Massachusetts, to but not including MP 25.6 CP--Martin 
St., in Acton, MA. By contract with the owner, the Massachusetts Bay 
Transportation Authority (MBTA), and in conjunction with the Small 
Starts American Recovery and Rehabilitation Act (ARRA), MBCR will be 
installing electronic track circuits on both tracks 1 and 2 to 
facilitate a bi-directional operation. New interlockings will be 
installed at MP 6, Horgan; MP 9, Beaver Brook; MP 10, Moody; MP 18, 
Hills; and MP 25, Maynard Junction. All interlockings will be equipped 
with colorlight LED type signal heads and electric switch machines.
    The interlockings at West Cambridge, Hill Crossing, and Clematis 
Brook will be retired and South Acton will become Maynard Junction. The 
mechanical bed-locking interlocking machine at Waltham Tower will be 
retired. Twenty-six existing automatic searchlight style signals will 
be retired, with twenty new automatic signals installed. The proposed 
modifications will retire a signal system comprised of dc neutral, 
mechanical, and searchlight type relays, and traffic control circuitry 
that operates via line wire and cable. Control of the territory will be 
transferred into the Commuter Rail Operations Control Center in 
Somerville, MA. This project is part of several projects designed to 
decrease passenger train trip time between Fitchburg, and Boston, MA.
    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 (Docket No. FRA-2010-0154) 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 within 45 days of the date of this notice 
will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments 
received after that date will be considered as far as practicable. All 
written communications concerning these proceedings are available for 
examination during regular business hours (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) at the above 
facility. All documents in the public docket are also available for 
inspection and copying on the Internet at the docket facility's Web 
site at http://www.regulations.gov.
    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, and labor union, 
etc.). You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register

[[Page 76070]]

published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78).

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 1, 2010.
Robert C. Lauby,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Regulatory and Legislative 
Operations.
[FR Doc. 2010-30533 Filed 12-6-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P