[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 127 (Friday, July 2, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38605-38606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-15949]
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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 the STEP or a
similar program to provide resources for national research on issues
related to planning, environment, and realty will be included in future
surface transportation legislation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, the FHWA
expects to seek partnerships that can leverage limited research funding
in the STEP with other stakeholders and partners in order to increase
the total amount of resources available to meet the Nation's surface
transportation research needs.
The purpose of this notice is to announce revisions to the STEP
implementation strategy for FY 2011 and to request suggested lines of
research for the FY 2011 STEP via the STEP Web site at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/step/index.htm in anticipation of future surface
transportation legislation.
DATES: Suggestions for lines of research should be submitted to the
STEP Web site on or before September 30, 2010.
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,
[[Page 38606]]
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 the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) (Pub. L.
109-59, Aug. 10, 2005), established the Surface Transportation
Environment and Planning Cooperative Research Program, 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 will be included in future
surface transportation legislation. The general objective of the STEP
is to improve understanding of the complex relationship between surface
transportation, planning, and the environment.
The SAFETEA-LU provided $16.875 million per year for FY 2006-2009
to implement this cooperative research program. Due to obligation
limitations, recissions, and congressional designation of Title V
Research in SAFETEA-LU, on average $14.5 million of the $16.875 million
authorized was available each fiscal year. We anticipate similar
funding levels in the next authorization.
The 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 2011, the FHWA expects to seek partnerships that
can leverage limited research funding in the STEP with other
stakeholders and partners in order to increase the total amount of
resources available to meet the nation's surface transportation
research needs.
The FY 2011 STEP will support the implementation of a national
research agenda that includes:
(1) Conducting research to develop climate change mitigation,
adaptation and livability strategies;
(2) Developing and/or supporting accurate models and tools for
evaluating transportation measures and developed indicators of
economic, social, and environmental performance of transportation
systems to facilitate alternative analysis;
(3) Developing and deploying research to address congestion
reduction efforts;
(4) Developing transportation safety planning strategies for
surface transportation systems and improvements;
(5) Improving planning, operation, and management of surface
transportation systems and rights of way;
(6) Enhancing knowledge of strategies to improve transportation in
rural areas and small communities;
(7) Strengthening and advancing State/local and tribal capabilities
regarding surface transportation and the environment;
(8) Improving transportation decisionmaking and coordination across
borders;
(9) Improving state of the practice regarding the impact of
transportation on the environment;
(10) Conducting research to promote environmental streamlining/
stewardship and sustainability;
(11) Disseminating research results and advances in state of the
practice through peer exchanges, workshops, conferences, etc;
(12) Meeting additional priorities as determined by the Secretary;
and
(13) Refining the scope and research emphases through active
outreach and in consultation with stakeholders.
The FHWA is issuing this notice to: (1) To announce revisions to
the STEP Implementation Strategy for the FY 2011 STEP in anticipation
of future surface transportation legislation, and (2) to solicit
comments on proposed research activities to be undertaken in the FY
2011 STEP via the STEP Web site. The STEP Implementation Strategy was
revised to: Update information on the graph and chart regarding
historical planning and environment research funding, and to add
information about proposed FY 2011 STEP including proposed funding
levels, goals, and potential research activities.
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.
The URL for the STEP Web site is:
The FHWA will use this Web site as a major mechanism for informing
the public regarding the status of the STEP.
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 507.
Issued on: June 21, 2010.
Victor M. Mendez,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-15949 Filed 7-1-10; 8:45 am]
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