[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 171 (Friday, September 4, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45900-45901]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-21378]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative
Research Program (STEP)
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Section 5207 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) established
the Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative
Research Program (STEP). The FHWA anticipates that resources for STEP
or a similar program to carry out national research on issues related
to planning, environment, and realty are likely to be included in
future surface transportation legislation even though SAFETEA-LU
expires at the end of this fiscal year. Legislation preceding SAFETEA-
LU--the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991
(ISTEA) and the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-
21)--provided resources for FHWA to carry out surface transportation
research initiatives that included planning, environment, and realty
research. SAFETEA-LU continued FHWA's research program funding and
established STEP.
The purpose of this notice is to announce the proposed FY 2010 STEP
implementation strategy in anticipation that the FHWA is likely to
receive resources for national research on issues related to
environment and planning as a part of future transportation legislation
and to request suggested lines of research for FY 2010 via the STEP Web
site at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/step/index.htm. Stakeholder
feedback from the STEP Web site provides useful research ideas and
helps to prevent redundant areas of research, saving valuable research
funds.
DATES: Suggestions for lines of research should be submitted to the
STEP Web site on or before December 3, 2009.
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, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., e.t., 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
Section 5207 of SAFETEA-LU (Pub. L. 109-59, Aug. 10, 2005)
established the Surface Transportation Environment and Planning
Cooperative Research Program. STEP was codified in section 507 of Title
23, United States Code. The FHWA anticipates that the STEP or a similar
program, to provide resources for national research on issues related
to planning, environment, and realty, is likely to be included in
future surface transportation legislation. The general objective of
STEP is to improve understanding of the complex relationship between
surface transportation, planning, and the environment.
SAFETEA-LU provided $16.875 million per year for fiscal years
2006--2009 to implement this cooperative research program. Due to
obligation limitations, rescissions, and Congressional designation of
Title V Research in SAFETEA-LU, on average $13 million of the $16.875
million authorized was available each fiscal year. We anticipate
similar funding levels in the next authorization or related legislation
to extend SAFETEA-LU.
STEP is the primary source of funds for FHWA to conduct research
and develop tools and technologies to advance the state of the practice
regarding national surface transportation and environmental
decisionmaking. In FY 2010, the FHWA expects to seek partnerships that
can
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leverage limited research funding in STEP with other stakeholders and
partners in order to increase the total amount of resources available
to address the nation's surface transportation research needs.
In FY 2010, the FHWA anticipates that it is likely to receive funds
for STEP or other research funding to:
(1) Conduct research to develop climate change mitigation and
adaptation strategies;
(2) Improve state of the practice regarding livability and the
impact of transportation on the environment;
(3) Develop and/or support the implementation of models and tools
for evaluating transportation measures and develop indicators of
economic, social, and environmental performance of transportation
systems;
(4) Develop and deploy research to address congestion reduction
efforts;
(5) Develop transportation safety planning strategies for surface
transportation systems and improvements;
(6) Improve planning, operation, and management of surface
transportation systems and rights of way;
(7) Enhance knowledge of strategies to improve transportation in
rural areas and small communities;
(8) Strengthen and advance State/local and tribal capabilities
regarding surface transportation and the environment;
(9) Improve transportation decisionmaking and coordination across
borders;
(10) Conduct research to promote environmental streamlining/
stewardship;
(11) Disseminate research results and advances in state of the
practice through peer exchanges, workshops, conferences, etc;
(12) Meet additional priorities as determined by the Secretary; and
(13) Refine the scope and research emphases through active outreach
and in consultation with stakeholders.
The FHWA is issuing this notice to: (1) Announce the proposed FY
2010 STEP Implementation Strategy in anticipation of future surface
transportation legislation, and (2) solicit comments on proposed
research activities likely to be undertaken in the FY 2010 STEP via the
STEP Web site. The STEP Implementation Strategy includes updated
information regarding historical planning and environment research
funding and proposed FY 2010 STEP funding levels, goals, and research
activities.
We invite the public to visit this Web site to obtain additional
information on STEP, as well as information on the process for
forwarding comments to FHWA regarding the STEP implementation plan. The
URL for the STEP Web site 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 STEP.
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 507.
Issued on August 31, 2009.
Victor M. Mendez,
Federal Highway Administrator.
[FR Doc. E9-21378 Filed 9-3-09; 8:45 am]
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