Notice of Application for Approval of Discontinuance or Modification of a Railroad Signal System
This document provides the public notice that Northern Illinois Commuter Railroad Corporation (Metra) petitioned FRA seeking approval to discontinue or modify a signal system.
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION:
Notice.
SUMMARY:
This document provides the public notice that Northern Illinois Commuter Railroad Corporation (Metra) petitioned FRA seeking approval to discontinue or modify a signal system.
DATES:
FRA must receive comments on the petition by August 11, 2025. FRA will consider comments received after that date to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES:
Comments:
Comments related to this docket 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 docket number. All comments received will be posted without change to
https://www.regulations.gov;
this includes any personal information. Please see the Privacy Act heading in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section of this document for Privacy Act information related to any submitted comments or materials.
Docket:
For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to
https://www.regulations.gov
and follow the online instructions for accessing the docket.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Scott Johnson, Railroad Safety Specialist, FRA Signal, Train Control, and Crossings Division, telephone: 406-210-3608, email:
scott.j.johnson@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Under part 235 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and 49 U.S.C. 20502(a), this document provides the public notice that by letter dated April 14, 2025, Metra petitioned FRA seeking approval to discontinue or modify a signal system.[1]
FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2025-0053.
Specifically, Metra requests to discontinue the cab signal system (CSS) on the Rock Island District on Tracks No. 1 and No. 2 from milepost (MP) 15.58 to 39.03. In its petition, Metra states that the concurrent use of automatic cab signals (ACS) and positive train control (PTC), which are not integrated into the locomotives, “could confuse and distract the train crew due to differences in the content of their displays, audible and visual alerts provided, and required acknowledgement protocols.” In addition, Metra states that the reliability of PTC will be enhanced if the ACS equipment is removed, and there are no other ACS territories adjacent to the subject area. To support its request, Metra notes that it has not identified any scenarios where PTC, in lieu of ACS, will result in a reduction of safety.
A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications concerning the petition, is available for review online at
www.regulations.gov.
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 and a public hearing, they should notify FRA, in writing, before the end of the comment period and specify the basis for their request.
Communications received by August 11, 2025 will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be considered if practicable.
Privacy Act
Anyone can search the electronic form of any written communications and comments received into any of FRA's 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/privacy-notice
for the privacy notice of
regulations.gov.
( printed page 31108)
Issued in Washington, DC.
John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
Footnotes
1.
Metra additionally requested relief from 49 CFR 236.566,
Locomotive of each train operating in train stop, train control or cab signal territory; equipped.
Use this for formal legal and research references to the published document.
90 FR 31107
Web Citation
Suggested Web Citation
Use this when citing the archival web version of the document.
“Notice of Application for Approval of Discontinuance or Modification of a Railroad Signal System,” thefederalregister.org (July 11, 2025), https://thefederalregister.org/documents/2025-12944/notice-of-application-for-approval-of-discontinuance-or-modification-of-a-railroad-signal-system.