01-11951. Notice of Application for Approval of Discontinuance or Modification of a Railroad Signal System or Relief From Requirements

Pursuant to Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 235 and 49 U.S.C. 20502(a), the following railroads have petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) seeking approval for the discontinuance or modification of the signal system or relief from the requirements of 49 CFR part 236 as detailed below.

Docket No. FRA-2001-9238

Applicants: Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board

Mr. Darrell J. Maxey, P.E., Chief Engineer, 1250 San Carlos Avenue, P.O. Box 3006, San Carlos, California 94070-1306

Mr. David Obedoza, Manager of Signals, 1250 San Carlos Avenue, P.O. Box 3006, San Carlos, California 94070-1306

The Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board seeks approval of the proposed modification of the automatic block signal system, on the two main tracks, near milepost 31.9, on the Peninsula Division, at Palo Alto, California, consisting of the removal of the electric lock from the hand-operated switch, on Main Track 2, of the north crossover.

The reason given for the proposed changes is to eliminate facilities no longer needed in present day operation; the electric lock is no longer necessary due to the previous removal of the Permanente Branch Line.

Any interested party desiring to protest the granting of an application shall set forth specifically the grounds upon which the protest is made, and contain a concise statement of the interest of the party in the proceeding. Additionally, one copy of the protest shall be furnished to the applicant at the address listed above.

All communications concerning this proceeding should be identified by the docket number and must be submitted to the Docket Clerk, DOT Central Docket Management Facility, Room PI-401, Washington, DC 20590-0001. Communications received within 45 days of the date of this notice will be considered by the 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 DOT Central Docket Management Facility, Room PI-401 (Plaza Level), 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. 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://dms.dot.gov.

FRA expects to be able to determine these matters without an oral hearing. However, if a specific request for an oral hearing is accompanied by a showing that the party is unable to adequately present his or her position by written statements, an application may be set for public hearing.

Issued in Washington, DC on May 7, 2001.

Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,

Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program Development.