FCC Shores Up Positive Train Control in New Jersey, Pennsylvania
The FCC Wireless Bureau modified a 218-219 MHz license held by railroad coalition PTC-220 to allow New Jersey Transit and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) to deploy positive train control. The modification means NJ Transit can deploy PTC in…
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New Jersey counties of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Sussex and Warren, and SEPTA in Pennsylvania counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia and in New Jersey's Gloucester and Mercer, the bureau said. The order also approves increased power levels so the spectrum can be used for PTC. The modifications also apply to some PTC-220 member freight railroads, the order said. Congress required Amtrak, and many commuter and freight railroads, to deploy interoperable PTC systems as part of the 2008 Rail Safety Improvement Act. Lack of PTC has been a factor in a number of train accidents, most recently of NJ Transit (see 1609290067). U.S. railroads were supposed to have had PTC in place by Dec. 31, 2015, but received a three-year extension after complaining to Congress they couldn't launch everywhere along their systems by that deadline (see 1510290069).