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LIRR Catenary System Components Waiver Request

Action: Notice, Request for Comments

Web posting date: June 24, 2016

Close of Comment Period: July 12, 2016

Summary

The Long Island Rail Road Company (LIRR) has requested a waiver from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) regarding the Buy America requirements contained in 49 U.S.C. 24405(a). The request pertains to two components of the Amtrak catenary system that supplies electrical power to Amtrak’s trains on the Northeast Corridor. The two components are high-speed section insulator and conical coupling. LIRR contends that these components of the catenary system are not available from a U.S. source.

Before deciding whether to grant this waiver, FRA is requesting public comments. A detailed justification for LIRR’s waiver request is available here.
  

Dates

Comments regarding this waiver request should be submitted directly on the form provided below. Commenters should be aware that offensive language, Privacy Act protected, or other inappropriate material will not be posted. FRA will consider all comments to this waiver request received in the initial 15-day comment period. Comments received after the initial 15-day comment period will be considered to the extent practical. 

General questions about this web notice or FRA’s Buy America requirements may be directed to Mr. John Johnson, Attorney Advisor, via e-mail at John.Johnson@dot.gov or by telephone at 202-493-0078

 

Comments

Lew Catone 6/24/2016 8:06:55 PM
LIRR should be required to buy America...Its a publicly funded
railroad and shows little attempt to purchase at savings ...deny
the waiver.....
Jonathan Allen 6/26/2016 6:15:30 PM
If Amtrak received a similar waiver when then electrified their line from New Haven to Boston, then I see no reason why the LIRR shouldn't receive the same accommodation. A foreign producer of such specialized equipment would only pass on the cost of setting up a US manufacturing/assembly facility to the LIRR, raising the cost higher than just importing it.

 

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Commenters should be aware that offensive language, Privacy Act protected, or other inappropriate material will not be posted.


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