96-31351. Notification of Funds Availability for Next Generation High-Speed Rail Corridor Studies

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 238 (Tuesday, December 10, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 65102]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-31351]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration


Notification of Funds Availability for Next Generation High-Speed 
Rail Corridor Studies

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration; Department of Transportation.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Department of Transportation and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1997 (Public Law 104-205 
(September 30, 1996)), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has 
$900,000 in next generation high speed rail funds available for grants 
to eligible participants for high speed rail corridor planning 
assistance, including preliminary engineering and operational analysis, 
and other planning activities. This notice sets forth the criteria by 
which FRA will make its selection of grant recipients. The FRA strongly 
supports the advancement of high-speed rail in congested corridors 
where it can be an important component of a balanced transportation 
system. Further, FRA believes the development or continuation of high-
speed rail in specific corridors should be undertaken as a partnership 
of states, localities, and the private sector, with support from the 
Federal government. Pursuant to the Swift Rail Development Act of 1994 
(Public Law 103-440 (November 2, 1994)), the Secretary may provide 
financial assistance to a public agency or group of public agencies for 
corridor planning for up to 50 percent of the publicly financed costs 
associated with eligible activities. Not less than 20 percent of the 
publicly financed costs associated with eligible activities shall come 
from State and local sources, which State and local sources may not 
include funds from any Federal programs. (In determining Federal, state 
and local shares under this provision, private financial assistance is 
to be first deducted. Then a Federal ceiling of 50 percent and a state 
and local floor of 20 percent is applied. The state and local funds 
must exclude funds made available from any Federal program. The 
remaining 30 percent of the non-privately financed portion of the 
project may be paid for using funds made available to the applicant 
from other Federal programs).

Criteria for Funding

    Eligible participants are encouraged to submit a request for 
funding which addresses the following criteria:
    1. The level of interest in the chosen corridor demonstrated by 
State, regional, and local governments and elected officials or other 
interested groups. Interest can be shown by the past and proposed 
financial commitments and in-kind resources of State and local 
governments and the private sector.
    2. The extent to which the proposed planning focuses on systems 
which will achieve sustained speeds of 125 mph or greater.
    3. The degree of integration of the corridor into metropolitan area 
and statewide transportation planning.
    4. The potential interconnection of the corridor with other parts 
of the Nation's transportation system, including the interconnection 
with other countries.
    5. The anticipated effect of the corridor on the congestion of 
other modes of transportation.
    6. Whether the work to be funded will aid the efforts of state and 
local governments to enhance compliance with Federal environmental laws 
and regulations.
    7. The estimated level of ridership and the estimated capital cost 
of corridor improvements, including the cost of closing, improving, or 
separating highway-rail grade crossings.
    8. Whether a specific route has been selected, specific 
improvements identified, and capacity studies completed, and whether 
the corridor has been designated as a high-speed rail corridor under 
Section 1010 of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 
1991, Public Law 102-240 (December 18, 1991).
    Eligible Participants: Any state government, local government, 
organization of state and/or local government, or any combination of 
such entities is eligible to apply for funding.

DOT Electronic Grants Pilot Project

    All applicants are eligible and encouraged to participate in the 
``DOT Electronic Grants Pilot Project.'' Through this pilot project, 
grant applicants will be provided with access to specially designed 
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) data screens on DOT's World Wide Web 
(WWW) homepage. The screens and related system components will enable 
customers to submit grant applications electronically including the 
Application for Federal Assistance, SF-424. Applicants will also be 
provided the capability to submit proposals as text document 
attachments to the electronic application.
    Future enhancements will provide for electronic submission of grant 
reports and payment requests.
    To participate or for more information, please contact Brad Smith, 
Federal Railroad Administration, via e-mail at: 
[e-mail] or tel.: [phone].
    Deadline For Requests for Grant Applications: Eligible participants 
desiring to apply for this funding should notify FRA by letter, and FRA 
will respond initially be providing a standard grant application 
package. For priority consideration, FRA requests that the completed 
grant application packages be returned to the below address by March 3, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: Applications should be submitted to: Honorable Jolene M. 
Molitoris, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration, ATTN; RDV-
11, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John F. Cikota at [phone].

    Issued in Washington, D.C. on December 2, 1996.
Jolene M. Molitoris,
Federal Railroad Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-31351 Filed 12-9-96; 8:45 am]
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