2019-09959. 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 (CFR) and 49 U.S.C. 20502(a), this document provides the public notice that by a document dated May 1, 2019, the Belt Railway Company of Chicago (BRC) petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) seeking approval to discontinue or modify a signal system. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2019-0039.

Applicant: The Belt Railway Company of Chicago, Mr. Harold T. Kirman, Director Strategic Planning & Compliance, 6900 South Central Avenue, Bedford Park, IL 60638-6397.

Specifically, BRC requests permission to permanently remove signal components within the interlocking at Rock Island Junction, Chicago, IL, located on BRC's Kenton Line at milepost 21.4. This location is a direct connection between BRC and the Canadian National Railway's (CN) Lakefront Subdivision, as referenced in CN's February 5, 2019, petition in Docket Number FRA-2019-0010. BRC notes that if FRA approves CN's petition, rail access to this location will no longer be possible, rendering these BRC signal components no longer usable at this location. The proposed change is to discontinue switch 9 and signal 2LD governing movement to the no longer used connection with CN.

A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications concerning the petition, is available for review online at http://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:

• Website: 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 July 1, 2019 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.). In accordance with 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 http://www.dot.gov/​privacy. See also http://www.regulations.gov/​#!privacyNotice for the privacy notice of regulations.gov.

Issued in Washington, DC.

John Karl Alexy,

Acting Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety.