Updates Needed to Part 652

Title 23 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 652 which implements Section 217 of Title 23 of the United States Code, "Bicycle Transportation and Pedestrian Walkways," is outdated and will be revised after reauthorization legislation is passed. The primary inaccuracies are:

1. Section 652.7(b)(2) does not include Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) in the list of initiating or supporting agencies.
2. Section 652.7(b)(4) calls for a benefit/cost consideration that is not currently required.
3. Section 652.9(a) has an obsolete limitation on bike/ped project costs of $45 million nationwide and $4.5 million per State.
4. Section 652.13 cites the 1981 AASHTO Guide for Development of New Bicycle Facilities ("or equivalent" guides) as being acceptable standards. There is now a 1999 version of this guide. There is also a companion guide for pedestrian facilities. It was released in 2004 and is entitled the AASHTO Guide for the Planning, Design, and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities. These publications are not available online, but are available for sale from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

In addition, Part 652 needs updating to include references to current funding programs such as National Highway System (NHS), the Surface Transportation Program (STP), and Transportation Enhancements (TE) funding.