Federal Register #2026-21397

Federal transportation agencies seek comments on Utah environmental review proposal and railroad signal-system actions

This U.S. Department of Transportation notice combines public-comment actions on Utah environmental review responsibilities and railroad signal-system changes; it is not a procurement solicitation. - Government agencies and parties - Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA), within the U.S. Department of Transportation, are the federal agencies involved. - Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is the applicant for the proposed Utah program. - Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and Indiana & Ohio Railway Company are named in separate railroad signal-system notices. - Utah environmental review proposal - UDOT seeks to assume specified NEPA and related environmental review, consultation, and decision-making responsibilities for qualifying railroad and public transportation projects in Utah, subject to FRA and FTA oversight. - The proposed responsibilities address areas including air quality, noise, wildlife, historic and cultural resources, hazardous materials, water resources, wetlands, and parklands. - Exclusions include certain cross-border projects, responsibilities not specified for assumption, government-to-government consultation with federally recognized Indian Tribes, Clean Air Act conformity determinations, and specified transportation planning responsibilities. - Separate railroad notices - SEPTA seeks FRA approval to remove control point North Elwyn and associated signals on its West Chester Line, citing operational redundancy and reduced maintenance. The affected equipment includes signals 2N and 4N and automatic block signals 1461 and 1462, on main tracks Nos. 1 and 2 between Schuylkill and Wawa interlockings. - Indiana & Ohio Railway Company petitioned FRA to discontinue or modify a signal system; the available notice text does not describe the requested changes. - OEMs and procurement - No OEMs, commercial vendors, products, quantities, or part numbers are identified. The notices concern regulatory actions and public comments, not a purchase of goods or services.

Description

The Federal Railroad Administration and Federal Transit Administration received and reviewed Utah’s application, submitted through the Utah Department of Transportation, to participate in the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program. The proposed Memorandum of Understanding describes the environmental review and related responsibilities UDOT would assume for covered railroad and public transportation projects in Utah, under the agencies’ oversight and subject to specified exclusions. The agencies determined the application package is complete and are inviting comments on the request, application package, and proposed MOU. Comments are due November 19, 2026.

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