2017-12796. Notice of Application for Approval of Discontinuance or Modification of a Railroad Signal System

Under part 235 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations and 49 U.S.C. 20502(a), this document provides the public notice that on April 24, 2017, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) seeking approval for the discontinuance or modification of a signal system. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2017-0040.

Applicant: National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Mr. Nicholas J. Croce III, PE, Deputy Chief Engineer C&S, Acting, 2995 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

Amtrak seeks to remove the wayside automatic signals' Numbers 532-2, 532-3, 533-2 and 533-3, milepost (MP) 53.3, and automatic signals' Numbers 552-2, 552-3, 553-2 and 553-3, MP 55.2, between interlockings Prince and Bacon, on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, Mid-Atlantic Division, Perryville, MD.

The reason for removal of the signals is that Amtrak is installing new clear block signals at Prince and Bacon interlockings to establish Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Committee Rule 562 territory, cab signals without fixed automatic block signals, on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, Mid-Atlantic Division, Main Line Philadelphia to Washington. With the proposed addition of the clear block signals at Prince and Bacon the automatic block signals are not necessary and require additional maintenance. The changes proposed are to remove the wayside signals on both Track No. 2 and No. 3 at automatic block points 553 and 552. Both locations will remain in service as block points without wayside 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 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:

• Web site: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: [phone].
• 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 4, 2017 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.

Robert C. Lauby,

Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety Chief Safety Officer.