[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: [email protected]. 
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]
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