Action Items (Response required)
Action Anticpated (Response will be required, deadline likely mid-August)
Action/Information (Response opportunity with deadline)
Information
ACTION (Response Required)
Rescission Notice N 4510.647: www.fhwa.dot.gov/legsregs/directives/notices/n4510647.cfm.
FHWA released Rescission Notice N 4510.647 on June 20, 2007: "Rescission of Federal-aid Apportionments, pursuant to Title IV, Chapter 8 of the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007, Public Law (Pub. L. No.) 110-28." See www.fhwa.dot.gov/legsregs/directives/notices/n4510647.cfm. It states: "Division Administrators should ensure that State departments of transportation officials are encouraged to reach out to stakeholders in considering how to implement the rescission." Note: The State DOT is required to respond by July 20.
Note: The tables reflecting States' responses to the March 19, 2007 rescission per P.L. 110-5 are posted at www.fhwa.dot.gov/rescissions/pl110_5/ and a link has been added to the Notice at www.fhwa.dot.gov/legsregs/directives/notices/n4510643.cfm.
ACTION ANTICIPATED (Response required, deadline likely mid-August)
RTP Advisory Committee Meetings in FY 2007
FHWA Headquarters will send out an official inquiry soon asking for confirmation that States have had their FY 2007 State Recreational Trail Advisory Committee Meetings to be eligible for FY 2008 Recreational Trails Program funds. You may respond before we send the inquiry: please send an email, attaching a copy of the meeting minutes from one meeting.
Already responded for FY 2007: CT, GA, HI, KS, KY, MA, SD, WV.
ACTION / INFORMATION (Response opportunity with deadline)
Access Board Releases Notice for Outdoor Developed Areas
The US Access Board published a Notice of Proposed RuleMaking (NPRM) on Accessibility Guidelines for Outdoor Developed Areas in the Federal Register on June 20, 2007. A link to the Federal Register Notice and information about the comment period are at www.access-board.gov/outdoor/nprm/. The deadline for comment is October 18, 2007.
The guidelines are for outdoor developed areas designed, constructed, or altered by Federal agencies subject to the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968. The guidelines cover trails, outdoor recreation access routes, beach access routes, and picnic and camping facilities. Comments should be received by October 18, 2007. The Access Board will hold hearings on July 24, 2007 from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. and on September 6, 2007 from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Note 1: These proposed guidelines are proposed for projects on Federal Lands and/or constructed by a Federal agency. These guidelines are proposed under the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (not under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990). These guidelines are not required for Federal-aid projects, such as projects using Federal-aid highway program funds. However, these proposed guidelines are the best practices available, and have been widely available since September 1999. FHWA encourages using these guidelines for Federal-aid trail projects as well.
Note 2: American Trails posted more information at www.americantrails.org/resources/accessible/index. An email from American Trails stated: "The NPRM is directed to Federal agencies. However, State, local and private recreation providers can look to these guidelines as the most current available information for making outdoor facilities accessible."
Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative Research Program (STEP)
Federal Register Notice (PDF): https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2007-06-25/pdf/E7-12127.pdf
Federal Register Notice (text): https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2007-06-25/html/E7-12127.htm
FHWA's STEP Feedback website: http://knowledge.fhwa.dot.gov/cops/step.nsf/home/ - (link inactive 5/12)
STEP is FHWA's source of funding for research related to Planning, Environment, and Realty. It includes a research funding process for FHWA Headquarters-funded planning and environment research activities in 2006-2009. Stakeholder input is required to identify the research topics that should receive priority consideration. FHWA is seeking input from all of its partners on the FY 2007 STEP Research Program.
STEP will fund research, field demonstrations, technology transfer, conferences, and workshops, as well as portions of various pooled fund research efforts. Grants and cooperative agreements are possible with a 50% match. Research contracts will not require a match.
The Office of Planning, Environment and Realty (HEP) has developed STEP research emphasis areas and has identified contacts for each (see website). The HEP contacts will continue to work with you and our partners to identify priority research projects for FY 2007. In addition, you may want to encourage your local partners to submit research topics directly to the STEP website, which also contains additional information about STEP. You can access the Feedback section of the website at http://knowledge.fhwa.dot.gov/cops/step.nsf/home/ - (link inactive 5/12). Please submit feedback by August 24, 2007.
USDA Forest Service Draft Open Space Conservation Strategy
The USDA Forest Service Draft Open Space Conservation Strategy is available for public review and comment. A Federal Register Notice inviting public comment was published on June 22nd, and comments will be accepted until July 23rd. Both documents are on the Open Space Conservation website:www.fs.fed.us/openspace/.
INFORMATION / NEWS / NEWSLETTERS
Recreational Trails Program Achievement Awards: http://americantrails.org/awards/CRT07awards/index.html
The Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT) announced the winners of its "Annual Achievement Awards" in recognition of their outstanding use of Recreational Trails Program (RTP) funds. The award winners are recognized at a special ceremony in Washington, DC on June 14, 2007 during the annual celebration for Great Outdoors Week. The following trail projects and programs were honored by the Coalition for Recreation Trails for 2007.
America's Byways Bulletins: http://bywaysonline.org/program/bulletin/
The America's Byways Bulletings are posted at http://bywaysonline.org/program/bulletin/. The June 2007 issue has articles on:
Transportation Planning Update: Spring 2007
The Transportation Planning Update is a quarterly newsletter providing information to the transportation planning community. Articles are written and submitted by Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration staff to share ideas, highlight good practices, and inform of current events. The Spring 2007 issue has articles on Environmental Excellence Awards, Context Sensitive Solutions, Trail Guidebooks, and more. See www.fhwa.dot.gov/resourcecenter/teams/planning/publications.cfm (soon!).
State Trail Administrators Meetings
2007: See STAM 2007 information at www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/recreational_trails/events/stam_2007/. We continue updating the website. Hotel Registration is open. If you plan to attend, please respond to jonathan.leclere@dot.gov.
2008: We will meet either before or after the National Trails Symposium in October 2008, in Little Rock AR.
2009: We will meet in July 2007 in Gainesville FL, hosted by the Florida Office of Greenways and Trails and the Southeastern Equestrian Trails Conference, with participation likely from the International Mountain Bicycling Association.
2010: We will meet either before or after the National Trails Symposium in October/November 2010, in Chattanooga TN.
2011: Who wants to host?
