[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 26, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14498-14499]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7564]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration


Maglev Study Advisory Committee; Notice of Fourth Meeting

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of fourth meeting of the Maglev Study Advisory 
Committee.

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SUMMARY: As required by Section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C. App. 2 (1988) and 41 CFR Part 101-6, 
section 101-6, 1015(a), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) gives 
notice of the fourth meeting of the Maglev Study Advisory Committee 
(``MSAC'). The purpose of the meeting is to advise DOT/FRA on the 
Congressionally mandated study of the near-term applications of maglev 
technology in the United States.

DATES: The fourth meeting of the MSAC is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m. EST on Monday and Tuesday, April 7 and 8, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The fourth meeting of the MSAC will be held in the 7th floor 
Conference Room at FRA Headquarters, 1120 Vermont Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC. The meeting is open to the public on a first-come, 
first-served basis and is accessible to individuals with disabilities. 
Those with special needs should inform Mr. Mongini 5 days in advance of 
the meeting so appropriate facilities can be provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Arrigo Mongini, Deputy Associate 
Administrator for Railroad Development, FRA RDV-2, 400 Seventh Street 
SW., Washington, DC 20590 (mailing address only) or by telephone at 
(202) 632-3286.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The fourth meeting of the Maglev Study 
Advisory Committee (MSAC) will be held on April 7 and 8 from 8:30 a.m. 
to 4:30 p.m. at the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) headquarters, 
1120 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC, in the 7th floor conference 
room. The meeting is open to the public.
    The MSAC was created by the National Highway System Designation Act 
to advise the Secretary of Transportation in the preparation of a 
report to be submitted by the Secretary to the Congress evaluating the 
near term applications of magnetic levitation transportation technology 
in the U.S. ``with particular emphasis on identifying projects 
warranting immediate application of such technology.'' The Act further 
specifies that the study also ``evaluate the use of innovative finance 
techniques for the construction and operation of such projects.'' The 
eight committee members collectively have experience in magnetic 
levitation transportation, design and construction, public and private 
finance, and infrastructure policy disciplines. The conference report 
on the National Highway System Designation Act specifies that ``[t]he 
Committee should identify and analyze specific magnetic levitation 
projects, such as a connector from New York City to its airports, the 
transportation project under development between Baltimore, Maryland 
and Washington, DC, and technology transfer efforts underway in 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, so that Congress can better assess how near-
term magnetic levitation technology

[[Page 14499]]

could complement existing modes of transportation * * *.'' The 
Secretary has assigned responsibility for preparing the report to the 
Federal Railroad Administrator, working closely with the MSAC. The 
Secretary's report to the Congress will discuss the extent to which the 
above and other potential magnetic levitation projects warrant 
immediate application, taking into account such factors as ability to 
be financed, benefits vs. costs, extent of public commitment and 
support, and national significance.
    This meeting will focus on the financing of near-term applications 
of maglev technology. Experts with backgrounds in the financing of 
public-private partnerships have been invited to address the Committee.
Jolene M. Molitoris,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-7564 Filed 3-25-97; 8:45 am]
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