Federal Highway Administration

[FHWA Docket No. FHWA-1999-5093 ]

Transportation Equity Act for the 21^st Century; Innovative Bridge Research and Construction Program; Public Meeting and Request for Comments

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Public meeting; Request for comments.

SUMMARY: The FHWA is announcing a public meeting to solicit information that will assist the agency in implementing section 5103(b) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21^st Century (TEA-21), Pub. L. 105-178, 112 Stat. 107, 428 (1998), codified at 23 U.S.C. 503(b), which established the innovative bridge research and construction program. The new statutory language requires the Secretary of Transportation, represented by the FHWA, to make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements and contracts with States and other Federal agencies, universities and colleges, private sector entities, and nonprofit organizations to pay the Federal share of the cost of research, development, and technology transfer concerning innovative materials; and States to pay the Federal share of the cost of repair, rehabilitation, replacement, and new construction of bridges or structures that demonstrate the application of innovative materials. The FHWA recognizes the public's interest in how the agency evaluates and selects projects to be funded. For this reason, we are scheduling a public meeting to obtain comments and ideas from interested persons to assist the FHWA in implementing section 5103(b) expeditiously.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on Friday, February 26, 1999, from 8 a..m. to 4 p.m., c.t. Comments to the docket must be received on or before 14 days after date of publication in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the O'Hare Marriott Hotel, 8535 W. Higgins Road, Chicago, Il 60631, Telephone: (773)693-4444.

Comments to the docket must refer to the docket number appearing at the top of this document and must be submitted to the Docket Clerk, U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. All comments received will be available for examination at the above address between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Those desiring notification of receipt of comments must include a self-addressed, stamped envelope or postcard.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Hooks, Office of Technology Applications, HTA-20, (202)366-6643; or Mr. Wilbert Baccus, Office of the Chief Counsel, HCC-32, (202)366-1396; Federal Highway Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday except Federal holidays.

Internet users can access all comments received by the U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, by using the universal resource locator (URL): http://dms.dot.gov. It is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. Please follow the instructions online for more information and help.

An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded using a modem and suitable communications software from the Government Printing Office's Electronic Bulletin Board Service at (202)512-1661. Internet users may reach the Federal Register's home page at: http://www.nara.gov/fedreg and the Government Printing Office's web page at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.

Further information on the Innovative Bridge Research and Construction Program including project selections for FY 1998-99 will be found on the FHWA's web page at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge.

Background

On November 4, 1998, at 63 FR 59621, a notice was published on implementation information for innovative bridge research and construction program funds. This notice described the legislative basis for the program and the process for application for program funds for the fiscal years of 1999 and 1999. An application form is provided and the Secretary will select and approve applications based on whether the project that is the subject of the grant meets the goals of the program. The Federal share of the cost of a project under this program will be determined by the Secretary and may include funds for preliminary engineering and performance evaluation.

The FHWA recognizes the public's interest in how the agency evaluates and selects projects to be funded. For that reason, we are scheduling a public meeting to obtain comments and ideas from interested persons to assist the FHWA in implementing section 5103(b) expeditiously. Oral statements and comments made by the participants during the course of the meeting will be recorded and incorporated into the official proceedings. Written comments will be accepted and placed in the public docket along with a transcript of the meeting. All docket comments and meeting transcripts will subsequently be available for review in the DOT Docket room.

During the hearing we plan to discuss all relevant issues concerning the evaluation, selection and funding of projects which meet the goals of the innovative bridge research and construction program.

Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315 and 503(b); 49 CFR 1.48.

Issued on: