2023-19519. TEXRail and the Silver Line's Joint Request for Approval To Conduct Positive Train Control Field Testing

AGENCY:

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION:

Notice of availability and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

This document provides the public with notice that on August 30, 2023, TEXRail submitted a request together with the Silver Line (SLVR) to field test trains on TEXRail's positive train control (PTC)-equipped territory, which is equipped with the Interoperable Electronic Train Management System (I–ETMS). FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on TEXRail and SLVR's joint request to test I–ETMS.

DATES:

FRA will consider comments received by November 13, 2023. FRA may consider comments received after that date to the extent practicable and without delaying testing or implementation of a PTC system.

ADDRESSES:

Comments: Comments may be submitted by going to https://www.regulations.gov and following the online instructions for submitting comments.

Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and the applicable docket number. The relevant PTC docket number for this host railroad is Docket No. FRA–2018–0012. For convenience, all active PTC documents are hyperlinked on FRA's website at https://railroads.dot.gov/​reserch-development/​program-areas/​train-control/​ptc/​railroads-ptc-dockets. All comments received will be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov; this includes any personal information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Gabe Neal, Staff Director, Signal, Train Control, and Crossings Division, telephone: [phone], email: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In general, title 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) section 20157(h) requires FRA to certify that a host railroad's PTC system complies with title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 236, subpart I, before the technology may be operated in revenue service. On December 23, 2020, FRA certified TEXRail's I–ETMS PTC system under 49 CFR 236.1015 and 49 U.S.C. 20157(h). Pursuant to 49 CFR 236.1035, a railroad must obtain FRA's approval before field testing an uncertified PTC system, or a product of an uncertified PTC system, or any regression testing of a certified PTC system on the general rail system. See49 CFR 236.1035(a). The joint test request, including a complete description of the Concept of Operations and specific test procedures that document the measures that will be taken to ensure safety during testing, are available for review online at https://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FRA–2018–0012.

Interested parties are invited to comment on the test request by submitting written comments or data. During its review of the test request, FRA will consider any comments or data submitted within the timeline specified in this notice and to the extent practicable. FRA, however, may elect not to respond to any particular comment, and under 49 CFR 236.1035, FRA maintains the authority to approve, approve with conditions, or deny the test request at its sole discretion.

Privacy Act Notice

In accordance with 49 CFR 211.3, FRA solicits comments from the public to better inform its decisions. DOT posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to https://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 https://www.regulations.gov/​privacy-notice for the privacy notice of regulations.gov. To facilitate comment tracking, we encourage commenters to provide their name, or the name of their organization; however, submission of names is completely optional. If you wish to provide comments containing proprietary or confidential information, please contact FRA for alternate submission instructions.

Issued in Washington, DC.

Carolyn R. Hayward-Williams,

Director, Office of Railroad Systems and Technology.