[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 150 (Friday, August 4, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44348-44349]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12664]
[[Page 44348]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
[FHWA Docket No. FHWA-2006-23612]
Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative
Research Program (STEP)
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In an earlier notice and request for comments, the FHWA
announced the creation of an FHWA Web site to provide information
regarding the Surface Transportation Environment and Planning
Cooperative Research Program (STEP) and solicited public input on the
implementation strategy for this program. Based on the review and
analysis of the comments received in response to the notice, the FHWA
has finalized and posted the implementation strategy for the STEP on
the STEP Web site at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/step/index.htm. In
addition, the FHWA has posted information on the STEP Web site
soliciting comments on proposed STEP research activities.
DATES: The implementation strategy is effective August 4, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Felicia Young, Office of Interstate
and Border Planning, (202) 366-1263, [email protected]; or
Grace Reidy, Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-6226; Federal
Highway Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590.
Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access
An electronic copy of this notice may be downloaded from the Office
of the Federal Register's home page at http://www.archives.gov and the
Government Printing Office's Web site at http://www.access.gpo.gov.
Background
On March 1, 2006, the FHWA published a notice in the Federal
Register (71 FR 10586) announcing the creation of an FHWA Web site to
provide information regarding the Surface Transportation Environment
and Planning Cooperative Research Program (STEP) and to solicit public
input on the implementation strategy for this program.
Section 5207, Surface Transportation Environment and Planning
Cooperative Research Program (STEP), of the Safe, Accountable,
Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users
(SAFETEA-LU) (Pub. L. 109-59; Aug. 10, 2005) established a new
cooperative research program for environment and planning research in
section 507 of Title 23, United States Code, Highways (23 U.S.C. 507).
The general objective of the STEP is to improve understanding of the
complex relationship between surface transportation, planning, and the
environment. Among other areas, STEP will address environment and
planning issues related to SAFETEA-LU implementation; Executive Order
13274: Environmental Stewardship and Transportation Infrastructure
Project Reviews; the U.S. Department of Transportation's Research and
Development Strategic Plan (section 508 of title 23 U.S.C.); and the
environmental costs associated with growing surface transportation
system congestion.
Discussion of Comments
The comment period for the notice closed on April 17, 2006. As of
June 19, 2006, the FHWA received ten comments in the docket. The FHWA
received comments from national associations, State Departments of
Transportation (State DOTs), a consulting firm, and a private citizen.
The FHWA has reviewed and analyzed these comments as well as a new
Secretarial initiative related to congestion.\1\ Summaries of the
docket comments and the FHWA's analyses and determinations are
discussed below. After considering and analyzing the comments, the FHWA
has decided to revise and finalize the implementation strategy.
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\1\ Speaking before the National Retail Federation's annual
conference on May 16, 2006, in Washington, DC, U.S. Transportation
Secretary Norman Mineta unveiled a new plan to reduce congestion
plaguing America's roads, rail and airports. The National Strategy
to Reduce Congestion on America's Transportation Network includes a
number of initiatives designed to reduce transportation congestion
and it is available at the following URL: http://isddc.dot.gov/OLPFiles/OST/012988.pdf.
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Most of the respondents supported the principles outlined in
Section 5207 of SAFETEA-LU, which established the STEP. We received
numerous comments regarding the STEP emphasis areas. Some respondents
indicated that additional emphasis areas should be added to the 22
proposed STEP emphasis areas.
Another respondent recommended reducing the number of emphasis
areas. Respondents identified the need to clarify the activities
eligible for STEP funding under the proposed emphasis areas.
Respondents commented that activities such as outreach, peer exchanges,
symposia, public involvement and other activities associated with the
deployment and sharing of information among stakeholders should be
eligible for STEP funding.
Respondents also commented on the proposed stakeholder involvement
in the STEP. Respondents indicated support for multiple stakeholder
involvement throughout the STEP implementation process.
Comments on STEP program included a recommendation that at least 50
percent of STEP funding be dedicated to State DOT-led research and a
recommendation that the STEP research focus on ``projects that can add
the best value across the nation rather than specific States or
regions.'' Two respondents recommended that the STEP governance include
a structure similar to the Transportation Research Board's National
Cooperative Highway Research Program.\2\
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\2\ The National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP)
which was established in 1962 is a national research program that is
administered by the Transportation Research Board. The NCHRP is
sponsored by the member departments (i.e., individual state
departments of transportation) of the American Association of State
Highway and Transportation Officials in cooperation with the Federal
Highway Administration.
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Respondents also acknowledged the STEP's funding limitations and
recommended that limited funding be spent effectively. Another
respondent recommended that funding focus on high priority research
that advances the goals of the Federal-aid highway program.
Changes to STEP
After reviewing the comments, the FHWA revised and augmented the
STEP implementation strategy by: (1) Grouping the STEP into four major
categories: Environment; Planning; Planning Tools for Planning and
Environment; and Program Management and Outreach; (2) identifying 17
specific research emphasis areas and potential funding; (3) providing
information regarding the goals and potential activities to be
implemented within each of these emphasis areas; and (4) adding contact
persons for each of these emphasis areas.
The FHWA also included Right of Way associations in the list of
Tier II transportation and environmental stakeholders and included the
Transportation Pooled Fund Program, University Transportation Centers,
and State planning research under the section for coordination with
other relevant research programs.
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The FHWA did not revise the proposed structure for stakeholder/
public involvement within the STEP. Because of the numerous and diverse
STEP stakeholders, the FHWA believes that it is important that the
limited STEP resources focus on priority environment and planning
surface transportation research needs. Also, we expect to continue
efforts to coordinate STEP implementation with other cooperative
research resources like State Planning Research (SPR), the Future
Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRPII), National Cooperative
Highway Research Program (NCHRP) and others to further leverage STEP
funding. The final implementation strategy is available on the STEP Web
site at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/step/index.htm.
Suggestions for Research Activities
At this time, the FHWA is requesting suggestions for the lines of
research that should be pursued within each emphasis area. For example,
stakeholders who have an interest in the ``Tools to Support Environment
and Planning'' emphasis area might suggest that it is important to
research ways to identify business models to enhance transportation
decision-making using geospatial data. Specific research work
statements for this suggestion, if pursued under the STEP, would be
crafted by FHWA, after careful consideration of stakeholder views.
Thus, the FHWA does not seek specific, detailed research proposals
and discourages researchers from submitting proposals of that nature.
Rather, the FHWA staff who will serve as contacts for each Emphasis
Area will work with stakeholders in the 17 research emphasis areas to
identify and prioritize lines of research within each area and to
subsequently develop specific work activities.
The FHWA is issuing this notice to: (1) Announce the posting of the
final STEP Implementation strategy on the STEP Web site; and (2) to
solicit comments on proposed research activities to be undertaken in
the STEP via the STEP Web site. The URL for the STEP is http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/step/index.htm. The FHWA will use this Web site as
a major mechanism for informing the public regarding the status of the
STEP.
We invite the public to visit this Web site to obtain additional
information on the STEP, as well as information on the process for
forwarding comments to the FHWA regarding the STEP implementation plan.
Authority: Section 5207 of Public Law 109-59.
Issued on: July 28, 2006.
J. Richard Capka,
Federal Highway Administrator.
[FR Doc. E6-12664 Filed 8-3-06; 8:45 am]
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