[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 24, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 67870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-32701]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research and Special Programs Administration
[Notice Number 96-1]
Announcement of Availability of the Surface Transportation
Research and Development Plan, Third Edition; Request for Comments
AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Report Availability; Request for Comments.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Transportation (DOT) announces the
publication of the third edition of the Surface Transportation Research
and Development Plan (R&D Plan), copies of which are available from the
contact listed below or on the World Wide Web at the INTERNET address
listed below. In addition, the Department invites comments to assist it
in the preparation of the fourth edition of this report.
Under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA),
DOT is required to prepare the R&D Plan for its near- and long-term
surface transportation research and development (R&D) activities. The
Department has begun preparation of the fourth edition, which will be
the last required under ISTEA.
DATES: Comments on the report should be postmarked no later than
January 23, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Comments on changes, suggestions for improvement, or
specific issues to include in the fourth edition of the report should
be sent to: Norm Paulhus, Senior Technical Advisor (DRT-1), Research
and Special Programs Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation,
400 7th Street, SW Room 8417, Washington, DC 20590. Comments must be
signed, and should include the name, address, and telephone number of
the point of contact. One additional copy of the comments should be
sent to Kevin Green at the address listed below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Green, Volpe National
Transportation Systems Center, Kendall Square, DTS-24, Cambridge, MA
02142. Telephone: (617)-494-2106. Internet: green@volpe1.dot.gov.
Copies of the third edition may be obtained from Mr. Green. The
complete text of the third edition of the R&D Plan is also available on
the World Wide Web at http://www.volpe.dot.gov/pblctns.htm.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
This notice announces the publication of, and solicits comments on,
the third edition of the R&D Plan. The report presents details of the
Department's near-term surface transportation R&D programs, and
presents a strategic long-term outlook for surface transportation R&D.
The report is prepared under authority provided in Section 6009(b) of
the ISTEA, which expires in 1997. In preparing the fourth edition of
the R&D Plan, the Department will consider public comments and
suggested changes raised during review of the third edition.
Purpose
DOT is committed to promoting a safe and efficient transportation
system that enhances the U.S. economy and contributes to a secure and
healthy environment. In January 1994, the Department issued its
Strategic Plan, which established the Department's mission and core
responsibilities, and identified several strategic goals for
implementing that mission in an era of limited resources.
The R&D Plan is directed at the development of the technologies
needed to produce convenient, safe, and affordable modes of
transportation. Many of these technologies are also mentioned in the
DOT Strategic Plan, and as such the document is a first step towards a
science and technology strategy to support the transportation industry.
The R&D Plan also establishes sixteen longer-term R&D emphasis areas to
provide for the next generation of surface transportation systems.
The general requirement for the R&D Plan is set forth in ISTEA. It
describes the time periods which must be addressed, the issues to be
covered, and the level of detail to be included, at a minimum, in the
R&D Plan.
The Department has begun preparing the fourth edition of the R&D
Plan, which will be the last called for by ISTEA. As such, the fourth
edition could provide an important point of reference for decision
making related to R&D provisions of any subsequent legislation. The
Department, therefore, encourages public review and comment on the
third edition of the R&D Plan, and will consider those comments in
preparing the fourth edition.
The Department is particularly interested in receiving public
comment on the following issues:
The Department seeks comment on the strategic vision
presented in the second section of the third edition of the R&D Plan.
Does it ask the right questions about key trends and challenges for the
future? Does it extend far enough into the future? Does it establish a
reasonable set of expectations? Does it propose long-term R&D efforts
that provide a strategic response to long-term challenges?
The Department also seeks comment regarding potential
measures of performance that could be used to assess the quality of
surface transportation R&D programs, the extent to which they achieve
their objectives, and the extent to which they ultimately shape the
surface transportation system.
Issued this 18th day of December 1996, in Washington, D.C. by:
D.K. Sharma,
Administrator, Research and Special Programs Administration.
[FR Doc. 96-32701 Filed 12-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
