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DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION
[4910-22-P]
Federal Highway Administration [FHWA Docket No. FHWA-1999-5093 ] Transportation Equity Act for the 21st 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
21st 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. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Electronic Access 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:
This page last modified on December 6, 1999