[Federal Register: July 28, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 144)] [Notices] [Page 40931-40932] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr28jy99-131] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [FRA Docket No. FRA-1999-5685, Notice No. 2] Federal Transit Administration RIN 2130--AB33 Proposed Joint Statement of Agency Policy Concerning Shared Use of the General Railroad System by Conventional Railroads and Light Rail Transit Systems AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT. ACTION: Extension of comment period. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: By notice of a proposed policy statement published on May 25, 1999 (64 FR 28238), FRA and FTA proposed how they intend to coordinate use their respective safety authorities to [[Page 40932]] address safety issues related to light rail transit operations that take place, or are planned to take place, on the general railroad system of transportation. The proposal also summarized how the process of obtaining waivers of FRA's safety regulations may work, particularly where the light rail and conventional rail operations occur at different times of day. In that notice, FRA established a deadline for the submission of written comments of July 30, 1999. Due to the need to ensure that all interested parties have sufficient amount of time to fully develop their comments, and because FRA has not yet seperately issued a proposed statement of agency policy concerning its safety jurisdiction over railroad passenger operations, this document announces an extension of the deadline for the submission of written comments. DATES: Written comments must be received by October 29, 1999. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent possible without incurring additional expenses or delay. ADDRESSES: Procedures for written comments: Submit one copy to the Department of Transportation Central Docket Management Facility located in room PL-401 at the Plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590. All docket material on the proposed statement will be available for inspection at this address and on the Internet at http://doms.dot.gov. (Docket hours at the Nassif Building are Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding Federal holidays.) Persons desiring notification that their comments have been received should submit a stamped, self-addressed postcard with their comments. The postcard will be returned to the addressee with a notification of the date on which the comments were received. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory B. McBride, Deputy Chief Counsel, FTA, TCC-2, Room 9316, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590 (telephone: (202) 366-4063); and Daniel C. Smith, Assistant Chief Counsel for Safety, FRA, RCC-10, 1120 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Mail Stop 10, Washington, D.C. 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6029). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the proposed joint policy statement issued on May 25, 1999 by FRA and FTA, the agencies explained that the proposal is intended to delineate the nature of the most important safety issues related to shared use of the general railroad system by conventional and rail transit equipment and summarize the application of FRA safety rules to such shared-use operations. The proposal will help transit authorities, railroads, and other interested parties understand how the respective safety programs of the two agencies will be coodinated. The proposed statement noted that FRA soon intended to issue its own proposed statement of agency policy concerning its safety jurisdiction over railroad operations, which would discuss the extent and exercise of FRA's jurisdiction, provide guidance on which would discuss the extent and exercise of exercise of FRA's jurisdiction, provide guidance on which of FRA's safety rules are likely to apply in particular operational situations, and summarize how the process of obtaining waivers of FRA's safety regulations may work. The expectation of the two agencies was that commenters would then have the ability to study and analyze FRA's proposed policy statement before July 30, 1999, the deadline for sumbitting written comments on the proposed joint statement. While FRA still intends to issue a separate proposed policy statement, regrettably that document will not be published before the close of the comment period for the proposed joint statement. Due to the complexity and importance of adopting a joint policy concerning shared use of the general railroad system by conventional railroads and light rail transit systems, especially to communities that are planning or developing light rail systems, FRA and FTA do not wish to inhibit the ability of any party to fully develop its comments and seek to provide sufficient time for all interested parties to gather necessary information. Consequently, FRA and FTA believe it is in the best interest of all parties involved to extend the period for the submission of written comments in this proceeding to October 29, 1999. It should be noted that since FRA expects to issue its proposed policy statement before the October 29, 1999 deadline, FRA and FTA do not anticipate any futher extension of the comment period in this proceeding. The two agencies will consider comments submitted after October 29, 1999, only to the extent possible without causing additional expense or delay. Jolene M. Molitoris, Federal Railroad Administrator. Gordon J. Linton, Federal Transit Administrator. [FR Doc. 99-19369 Filed 7-27-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-06-M