[Federal Register: May 19, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 95)]
[Notices]
[Page 23466-23467]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19my09-98]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2009-0045]
Capital Assistance for High Speed Rail Corridors and Intercity
Passenger Rail Service: Public Input on Recovery Act Guidance to
Applicants
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of public docket.
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SUMMARY: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)
became law on February 17, 2009. ARRA provides $8 billion to the
Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) for grants for capital
assistance for high speed rail corridors and intercity passenger rail
service. In April 2009, in accordance with ARRA, the Secretary
submitted a strategic plan Vision for High Speed Rail in America
(http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/31) that describes how the Secretary
will use these funds to improve and deploy high speed passenger rail
systems to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations. ARRA also
requires FRA to issue on or before June 17, 2009 interim guidance
regarding grant terms, conditions, and procedures until final
regulations are issued. This interim guidance will address the high
speed rail corridor program, capital assistance for intercity passenger
rail service grants, and congestion grants. FRA seeks input from the
public on issues that should be addressed in the interim guidance and
specific recommendations on the criteria to be used in evaluating grant
applications.
DATES: Comments must be received by June 5, 2009. FRA will consider
late filed comments to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods.
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
U.S. Post or Express Mail: U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, West Building Ground Floor, Room
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: The West Building of the U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590,
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
Instructions: You must include the agency name (Federal Railroad
Administration) and the Docket number (FRA-2009-0045) at the beginning
of your comment. You should include two copies of your comment if you
submit it by mail. If you wish to receive confirmation that FRA
received your comment, you must include a self-addressed stamped
postcard. Note that FRA will post all comments that it receives,
including any personal information provided therein, without change, to
http://www.regulations.gov.
Due to security procedures in effect since October 2001 regarding
mail deliveries, mail received through the
[[Page 23467]]
U.S. Postal Service may be subject to delays. A party that submits a
comment responsive to this notice should consider using an express mail
firm to ensure the prompt filing of any submissions not filed
electronically or by hand.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Kulat, Public Affairs
Specialist, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue,
SE., West Building-3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20590; Telephone: (202)
493-6024.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: President Barack Obama and Secretary Ray
LaHood have voiced a commitment to further develop and refine a world-
class network of high-speed passenger rail corridors and intercity
passenger rail service. The President proposes to jump-start the
process with the $8 billion down payment provided in ARRA. ARRA directs
funds toward projects that will aid in near-term economic recovery,
while laying a foundation for longer-term economic stability and
competitiveness. These first steps emphasize strategic investments that
will yield tangible benefits to intercity rail infrastructure,
equipment, performance, and intermodal connections over the next
several years, while also creating a ``pipeline'' of projects to enable
future corridor development.
The forthcoming guidance will describe in more detail the
application prerequisites for each program along with the specific
criteria that will be used to evaluate applications. The scope and
specificity of each project will vary, but all applications will most
likely need to address planning and project development, stakeholder
agreements, financial plans, and risk management plans.
As President Obama outlined in his March 20, 2009, memorandum,
Ensuring Responsible Spending of Recovery Act Funds, implementing
agencies are to:
Develop transparent, merit-based selection criteria that will guide
their available discretion in committing, obligating, or expending
funds under the Recovery Act.
FRA is committed to carrying out this requirement through clear
selection criteria and evaluation procedures. In preparing the
selection criteria and evaluation procedures, FRA seeks structured
input from stakeholders and the public on the criteria to be used in
evaluating grant applications in order to achieve a new national
network of high speed intercity passenger rail corridors.
Issued in Washington, DC, on May 12, 2009.
Joseph C. Szabo,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E9-11597 Filed 5-18-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P