[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 11, 1997)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 6161-6163] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-3387] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration 49 CFR Part 395 FHWA Docket No. MC-96-28 RIN 2125-AD93 Public Meetings for Drivers and Other Interested Persons AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of meetings. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The FHWA is announcing seven public meeting listening sessions for commercial motor vehicle drivers and other interested persons to speak with FHWA officials about their problems with the FHWA's hours- of-service regulations. This action is necessary to inform the public about the dates, times, and locations of the listening sessions. The FHWA hopes to hear from the public, specifically drivers of trucks and buses, about how the hours-of-service regulations affect their professional, personal, and family life. All oral comments will be transcribed and placed in the rulemaking docket for the FHWA's consideration. DATES: Session 1--Monday, March 10, 1997, Kansas City, Missouri. Session 2--Wednesday, March 12, 1997, Billings, Montana. Session 3--Friday, March 14, 1997, Ontario, California. Session 4--Friday, March 14 through Saturday, March 15, 1997, Ontario, California. Session 5--Tuesday, March 18, 1997, Doswell, Virginia. [[Page 6162]] Session 6--Wednesday, March 26, 1997, Birmingham, Alabama. Session 7--Monday, March 31, 1997, Washington, District of Columbia. The listening sessions will start at 8:30 a.m. and end at 5:00 p.m. local time, on each of these dates, except for Sessions 4 and 7. The ending time may be extended at any session to accommodate the attendees, except for Session 7 in Washington, D.C. The listening session for Session 4 will start at 10:00 p.m. March 14, 1997 and end at 4:00 a.m. March 15, 1997, local time. Session 7 in Washington, D.C. will end at 4:00 p.m. local time. Written comments to the general ANPRM should be submitted to the public docket no later than March 31, 1997. Late comments will be considered to the extent practicable. ADDRESSES: Written Comments. Written comments should be sent to: Docket Clerk, Attn: FHWA Docket No. MC-96-28, Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, Room 4232, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20590. Persons who require acknowledgment of the receipt of their comments must enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard. Comments may be reviewed at the above address from 8:30 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General Information. To request time to be heard at the Washington, D.C. listening session and for other general information about all listening sessions, contact Mr. Stan Hamilton, Office or Motor Carrier Planning and Customer Liaison, telephone (202) 366-0665. Specific ANPRM Information. For information concerning the rulemaking, contact Mr. David Miller, Office of Motor Carrier Research and Standards, (202) 366-1790. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Addresses for Listening Sessions The listening sessions will be held at these locations: Session 1--Monday, March 10, 1997, Kansas City, Missouri, Park Place Hotel, 1601 North Universal (on west side of Interstate 435), Kansas City, Missouri 64120, Hotel Telephone: (816) 483-9900. Directions to Session 1: From Interstate 435, exit number 57. Truck tractor-trailer combinations and motorcoaches may park at the Flying J Truck Stop (on the east side of Interstate 435, exit 57). A van shuttle service will be provided. Session 2--Wednesday, March 12, 1997, Billings, Montana, Holiday Inn Plaza, 5500 Midland Road, Billings, Montana 59101, Hotel Telephone: (406) 248-7701. Directions to Session 2: From Interstate 90, use exit 446 (Midland Road). Hotel parking area capacity: 70 truck tractor- trailer combinations. Additional truck and motorcoach parking may be found at Sinclair West Parkway Truck Stop, 5400 Laurel Road (exit 446 toward City Center, one block north of Interstate 90 and hotel). A van shuttle service will be provided. Session 3--Friday, March 14, 1997, Ontario, California, Ontario Airport Hilton Hotel, 700 North Haven Avenue, Ontario, California 91764-4902, Hotel Telephone: 909-980-0400. Directions to Sessions 3 and 4: From Interstate 10, truck tractor-trailer combinations and motorcoaches exit onto southbound Milliken Avenue. Park at the Ontario Union 76 Truck Stop. Truck stop parking capacity: 500 truck tractor- trailer combinations. A van shuttle service will be provided. Truck tractors with no trailers, ``bobtails,'' may park at the hotel by exiting Interstate 10 on to northbound Haven Avenue. Turn right at Inland Empire Boulevard. Only ``bobtails'' may park in the hotel parking lot. Session 4--Friday night, March 14 through Saturday, before dawn, March 15, 1997, Ontario, California, Ontario Airport Hilton Hotel, 700 North Haven Avenue, Ontario, California 91764-4902, Hotel Telephone: 909-980-0400. Session 5--March 18, 1997, Doswell, Virginia, Doswell All-American Travel Plaza, Interstate 95 at exit 98, Doswell, Virginia 23047, All- American Telephone: (804) 876-3712. Directions to Session 5: From Interstate 95, use exit 98 (same exit as King's Dominion Amusement Park). All trucks and motorcoaches may park at the travel/truck stop plaza. Session 6--March 26, 1997, Birmingham, Alabama, Birmingham- Jefferson Civic Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza (950 22nd Street, North), Birmingham, Alabama 35203, Civic Center Telephone: (800) 972-8007. Listening sessions will be held in Medical Forum Rooms A and B. Motorcoaches and truck tractor-trailer combinations may park at the Best Western Hotel across the street from the Civic Center. Best Western Hotel parking area capacity: 15 to 20 truck tractor-trailer combinations. Additional motorcoach and truck parking may be found at the Civic Center large vehicle parking lot at 18th Street and 11th Avenue North (approximately four blocks from Civic Center--Medical Forum). Directions to Session 6: Interstate 65 North: From Montgomery going North, exit onto Interstate 20 and 59 North toward Atlanta. Exit onto 22nd Street North exit number 125-B. Proceed north one block to 23rd Street. Turn left. Proceed west one block to Civic Center Boulevard. Interstate 65 South: From Huntsville/Nashville going south, exit onto Interstate 20 and 59 North toward Atlanta. Merge immediately to the right side of the freeway and exit onto 22nd Street North exit number 125-B. Proceed north one block to 23rd Street. Turn left. Proceed west one block to Civic Center Boulevard. Interstate 20 and 59 North: From Tuscaloosa and points Southwest, exit onto 22nd Street North exit number 125-B. Proceed north one block to 23rd Street. Turn left. Proceed west one block to Civic Center Boulevard. Interstate 20 and 59 South: From Atlanta, exit at Carraway Boulevard exit number 125- A. Follow signs to 11th Avenue North. Follow the Civic Center signs to Civic Center Boulevard. Turn right onto Civic Center Boulevard. Session 7--March 31, 1997, Washington, D.C., DOT Building, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Room 2230, Telephone (202) 366-1790. Session 7 Directions: From the left lane of Interstate 295, exit onto Westbound East Capitol Street, drive around Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Memorial Stadium. Park in the south RFK Stadium lot, marked Lot 8. Walk to the Metrorail subway system (about five city blocks). It is on the opposite side of the D.C. Armory from the parking lot. When you walk to the front of the D.C. Armory, the Metrorail station will be on your right about two more blocks. It is located at the intersection of 19th Street and ``A'' Street, S.E. Enter the station by going down the escalator. Obtain a farecard from the vending machine ($1.10 one-way). Place the farecard in an entrance gate marked with a green arrow. Be sure you take the farecard out of the machine when it comes out, you will need the farecard when you get to L'Enfant Plaza station. If you need help buying a farecard or passing through the entrance gate, please ask the station attendant for assistance. Board a train going toward Van Dorn or Vienna. Flashing lights near a track means a train is about to enter the station on that track. Trains run about every 15 minutes. The L'Enfant Plaza station is five (5) stations away from the Stadium/Armory station. When exiting the subway trains, use the escalators to the left (rear of the train) to go up to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Place the farecard in an exit gate marked with a green arrow. If you purchased a farecard for $1.10, the exit gate will keep your farecard. If you bought a farecard for more than $1.10, be sure you take the farecard out [[Page 6163]] of the machine when it comes out, as you will need the farecard to re- enter the station for the return trip. If you need help passing through the exit gate, please ask the station attendant for assistance. After exiting the exit gate, ride the second set of escalators to the plaza. Enter the U.S. DOT building through the Southwest Entrance (farthest entrance to the right across the plaza as you get off the escalator). A map on a column at the top of the escalator will also indicate the Southwest corner of the DOT building. When you are ready to return to the RFK Stadium parking lot, re- enter the L'Enfant Plaza metrorail station at the DOT building. Purchase an additional farecard, enter the station and go down to the platform on the lowest level. Board a blue or orange train headed toward New Carrollton or Addison Road. When you get off the escalator, the correct train track will be to your left. Take the train five (5) stops to the Stadium/Armory station and walk back to the RFK Stadium parking lots by going around the D.C. Armory. The FHWA is providing this opportunity to listen particularly to drivers who must live with, and follow, these regulations on a daily basis. The FHWA is specifically interested in hearing about problems drivers have with any aspect of the hours-of-service issue. The FHWA will not have developed any proposals for this rulemaking by the time these listening sessions are held. These sessions are being held to obtain additional information that may assist us in formulating proposals that would minimize crashes, minimize regulatory burdens, are cost-effective, and are easy to understand. The FHWA would like to develop new proposals based upon supportable scientific data or, if scientific data is not supportable, by the best available professional judgment. The FHWA does not intend to base new proposals upon anecdotal information or intuitive opinion. Anecdotal information or intuitive opinions from drivers and other members of the public, however, may assist us in developing proposals that are easy to understand, comply with, and are enforceable. At all listening sessions, except in Washington, D.C., FHWA officials will recognize and listen to all persons with an interest in the hours-of-service regulations. An individual will not be required to make a formal statement at these listening sessions. It is not necessary to request time to be heard at the sessions, except for the Washington, D.C. session. All persons will be given an opportunity to participate. All discussions and comments made at the listening sessions will be recorded and transcribed and will be placed in the rulemaking docket. For Washington, D.C. Participants Only All persons who would like to participate at the Washington, D.C. session must request notice of their desire to participate by telephoning Mr. Stan Hamilton at (202) 366-0665 by 4:00 p.m. eastern standard time on Friday, March 28, 1997. All persons participating at the Washington, D.C. session will be subject to Federal and DOT workplace security measures. All persons will need identification with their picture on it and must display the identification to DOT Security officers. The DOT's Security office will search all non-Government personnel. Please leave knives, guns, and other weapons at home. These weapons may be confiscated by DOT Security officers or the Metropolitan Police Department. All persons will be required to sign-in at the guard's desk, walk- through metal detection devices (and possibly be searched with a hand- held metal detection device). All handbags and packages will be X-rayed by detection equipment. All visitors to DOT will be required to wear a ``Visitor'' badge at all times while in the DOT building. The DOT's Security office will limit and monitor the public's access and movement through the DOT building. All persons requesting to participate in the session, but failing to satisfy DOT Security requirements, will be denied entry into the building and will forfeit their opportunity to participate in the Washington, D.C. listening session. Such persons will be allowed to submit written comments to the docket, at the above address, by the close of business on March 31, 1997. Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315 and 49 CFR 1.48. Issued on: February 6, 1997. George L. Reagle, Associate Administrator for Motor Carriers. [FR Doc. 97-3387 Filed 2-10-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-22-P