[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 188 (Wednesday, September 29, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52572-52573]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25373]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century; The National
Corridor Planning and Development Program and the Coordinated Border
Infrastructure Program
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Public workshops.
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SUMMARY: The FHWA invites metropolitan planning organizations (MPO),
Federal and State government agencies, and the public to attend one or
any of five public workshops on the National Corridor Planning and
Development Program (NCPD) and the Coordinated Border Infrastructure
Program (CBI) and their application process. The NCPD and the CBI
programs are funded by a single funding source. These programs provide
funding for planning, project development, construction and operation
of projects that serve border regions near Mexico and Canada and high
priority corridors throughout the United States. States and MPOs are,
under the NCPD program, eligible for discretionary grants for: Corridor
feasibility; corridor planning; multistate coordination; environmental
review; and construction. Border States and MPO are, under the CBI
program, eligible for discretionary grants for: Transportation and
safety infrastructure improvements, operation and regulatory
improvements, and coordination and safety inspection improvements in a
border region.
At each of the workshops, we will provide: An overview of the NCPD/
CBI programs; details on the types of information DOT/FHWA is
requesting; facts about how we will use this information; technical
information for submitting data; advice on how to complete the
application, should you choose to apply; and we will be requesting
information about ways to improve and evaluate the programs in the
future.
DATES: The workshops will be conducted between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
on the first day and between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. (local time) on
the second day of the meetings at the following locations and dates:
1. October 12 and 13, 1999, Hunt Valley, MD, Embassy Suites Hotel,
213 International Circle, Hunt Valley, MD 21030.
2. October 19-20, 1999, Chicago, IL, Ambassador West Hotel, 1300 N.
State Parkway, Chicago, IL.
3. October 25-26, Atlanta, GA; Renaissance Atlanta Hotel Downtown,
590 West Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30308.
4. November 15-16, 1999, Seattle, WA (Tentative), Cavanaughs on
Fifth Avenue, 1415 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101.
5. November 18-19, 1999, Phoenix, AZ (Tentative), Wyndham Metro
Center, 10220 N. Metro Parkway East, Phoenix, AZ 85051.
A registration fee of $75 is payable to Harrington-Hughes &
Associates, Inc., 733 15th Street, NW., Suite 700, Washington, DC
20005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Specifics on registration and hotel
accommodation information are available by calling Barbara Murdock of
Harrington-Hughes & Associates, Inc., at (202) 289-7285. For workshop
issues: Lisa Williams, Office of Intermodal and Statewide Programs,
HEPS, (202) 366-6798; or for program issues: Martin Weiss, Office of
Intermodal and Statewide Programs, HEPS, (202) 366-5010; Federal
Highway Administration, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington D.C. 20590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access
An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded using a
computer with a modem and suitable communications software from the
Government Printing Office's Electronic Bulletin Board Service at (202)
512-1661. Internet users may reach the Office of Federal Register's
home page at: http://www.nara.gov/fedreg and the Government Printing
Office's web page at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.
Internet users may access a number of documents and links
concerning the NCPD and CBI programs through the home page of the
Corridor/Border Programs: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep10/corbor/
corbor.html.
Background
On August 30, 1999, at 64 FR 47222, the FHWA published
implementation guidance for the national corridor planning and
development program and the coordinated border infrastructure program.
Sections 1118 and 1119 of the Transportation Equity Act for the
21st Century (TEA-21), Public Law 105-178, 112 Stat.107, at 161,
establish the NCPD and CBI programs, respectively. These programs
respond to substantial interest dating from, as early as, 1991. In that
year, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA),
Public Law 102-240, 105 Stat. 1914, designated a number of high
priority corridors. Subsequent legislation
[[Page 52573]]
modified the corridor descriptions and designated additional corridors.
Citizen and civic groups promoted many of these corridors as, for
example, a means to accommodate international trade. Similarly, since
1991, a number of studies identified infrastructure and operation
deficiencies near the U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada. Also various
groups, some international and/or intergovernmental, studied
opportunities to improve infrastructure and operations.
In 1997, the DOT's Strategic Plan for 1997-2002 was established.
The strategic goals in this plan are: Safety, mobility, economic growth
and trade, human and natural environment, and national security. In
1998, the FHWA's National Strategic Plan was established. The strategic
goals in this plan are: Mobility, safety, productivity, human and
natural environment and national security. Both sets of goals are
consistent with the language of TEA-21, including sections 1118 and
1119.
The NCPD and CBI programs are funded by a single funding source.
The combined authorized funding for these two programs is $140 million
in each year from FY 1999 to Fiscal Year 2003 (a total of $700
million). However, obligations are limited each year by the
requirements of section 1102 (Obligation Ceiling) of the TEA-21.
Under the NCPD program, funds are available to States and MPOs for
coordinated planning, design, and construction of corridors of national
significance, economic growth, and international or interregional
trade. Under the CBI program, funds are available to border States and
MPOs for projects to improve the safe movement of people and goods at,
or across, the border between the United States and Canada, and the
border between the United States and Mexico. In addition, the Secretary
of Transportation (Secretary) may transfer up to a total of $10 million
of combined program funds, over the life of the TEA-21, to the
Administrator of GSA Services Administration (GSA) for the construction
of transportation infrastructure necessary for law enforcement in
border States. Such transfer(s) will be made, based on funding
requested and supporting information furnished by the Administrator of
GSA. Finally, the Secretary will implement any provisions in
legislation that directs that FY 2000 NCPD/CBI funds be used for
specific projects. Based on the factors noted above (i.e., obligation
limitations, transfer of funds to GSA and legislation), the FHWA
anticipates that between $95 million and $130 million will be available
for allocation for projects submitted in response to this notice.
The Federal share for these funds is set by 23 U.S.C. 120
(generally 80 percent plus the sliding scale adjustment in States with
substantial public lands). The period of availability for obligation is
the fiscal year for which the funds are authorized and the three years
following. States which receive an allocation of funds under these
programs will, at the same time, receive an increase in obligation
authority equal to the allocation. Under section 1102 of TEA-21,
obligation authority for discretionary programs that is provided during
a fiscal year is extinguished at the end of the fiscal year. Funds
allocated to projects which, under the NCPD/CBI programs, receive an
obligation authority increase for FY 2000, must therefore be obligated
during FY 2000 or be withdrawn for redistribution.
FHWA strongly urges all MPO's, State and local governments, as well
as the public to participate and provide feedback. With MPO's State and
local governments all contributing, we can be successful. Please attend
one of five public workshops to learn how you can participate.
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; secs. 1118 and 1119, Pub. L. 105-178,
112 stat. 107, at 161 (1998); and 49 CFR 1.48.
Issued on September 24, 1999.
Jill L. Hochman,
Director, Intermodal and Statewide Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-25373 Filed 9-27-99; 10:08 am]
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