[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 181 (Friday, September 18, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49951-49952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24915]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Guidance for Fiscal Year 1999 Interstate Discretionary (ID) Funds

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This document publishes guidance for distribution of Fiscal 
Year 1999 Interstate Discretionary (ID) Funds. Materials on this topic 
were issued to FHWA region and division offices on July 16, 1998. This 
material describes activities eligible for Interstate discretionary 
funding, the application process, and criteria used to evaluate 
candidate projects.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Cecilio Leonin, HNG-12, (202)366-
4651; or Mr. Wil Baccus, HCC-32, Office of the Chief Counsel, (202)366-
1396, Federal Highway Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, D.C. 20590-0001. Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 
p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except for Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded using a modem 
and suitable communications software from the Government Printing 
Office 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 database at: 
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.

Background

    Guidance published in this Federal Register notice is provided for 
informational purposes. Specific questions on any of the material 
published in this notice should be directed to the appropriate contact 
person named in the caption For Further Information Contact.

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued on: September 10, 1998.
Kenneth R. Wykle,
Federal Highway Administration Administrator.
    The text of the FHWA guidance memorandum follows:


    ACTION: Request for Projects for Fiscal Year 1999 Interstate 
Discretionary (ID) Funds (Reply Due: September 15, 1998), July 16, 
1998
    Associate Administrator for Program Development, Regional 
Administrators, Division Administrators, HNG-12

    The final set-aside of ID funds occurred with the FY 1996 IC 
apportionment. However, there is presently available a balance in ID 
funds of about $63.4 million which have been carried over from prior 
years. These ID funds were held in reserve by FHWA to pay for its 
operating expenses in accordance with the provisions of Section 
4(a)(1)(A) of the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 1997 
(STEA). With the enactment of the Transportation Equity Act for the 
21st Century (TEA-21) these ID funds are now available for 
distribution.
    On June 11, 1997 (before the enactment of the STEA), FHWA issued 
a solicitation memorandum seeking applications from the States for 
these ID funds. No action was taken on these applications, however, 
as a result of the above legislation. Because the funding needs for 
previously received applications may have changed and other 
potential applications could be possible at this time, we are now 
again soliciting applications for these ID funds.
    Please work with the States to identify viable projects to 
assure high quality candidates following the revised procedures 
outlined below. Also, any candidates submitted in response to our 
June 11, 1997, solicitation memorandum should be resubmitted if the 
State desires the project to continue to be considered.

Interstate Discretionary (ID) Funds

Eligibility

    As in past years, only work eligible under the provisions of the 
Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1981 and included in the 1981 Interstate 
Cost Estimate is eligible for ID funding.
    The ID funding request must be for ready-to-go projects in States 
which have obligated or will obligate during FY 1999 all available IC 
and ID funds. Applications should be submitted only for projects which 
will be ready for authorization by September 1, 1999; and in the case 
of construction projects, construction must begin within 90 days of 
obligation. Requests may include conversion of projects previously 
authorized as advance construction Interstate projects pursuant to 
Section 115 of 23 U.S.C.

Selection Criteria

    To evaluate the submitted candidates for selection, we will be 
considering several criteria. Although there are no statutory or 
regulatory criteria for selection of ID projects, the following 
criteria are so considered in the evaluation of candidates for this 
program:
    1. Segments not open-to-traffic--Consideration will be given to 
eligible projects that will close gaps in the Interstate System.
    2. State priorities--For States that submit more than one project, 
we give consideration to the individual State's priorities if 
specified.
    3. Leveraging of private or other public funding--Because the 
requests for funding usually far exceed the available ID funds, 
commitment of other funding sources to complement the requested ID 
funds is an important factor.
    In addition to the above criteria, project selection will also 
consider national geographic distribution among all of the 
discretionary programs as well as congressional direction or guidance 
provided on specific projects or programs.

Submission Requirements

    Although there is no prescribed format for a project submission, 
the following information must be included in the application to 
properly evaluate the candidate projects. Those applications that do 
not include these items will be considered incomplete and returned.
    1. State.
    2. Federal-Aid Project Number.
    3. Description of Project--Describe the project work to be 
completed under this request.
    4. Project Location--Describe the specific location of the project, 
including route number and mileposts, if applicable.
    5. County or Counties in which the project is located.
    6. U.S. Congressional District No.(s) in which the project is 
located.
    7. U.S. Congressional District Member's Name(s).
    8. On Gap or Open to Traffic Segment.
    9. Project Plan Status--PS & E status.
    10. Estimated Authorization Date (month/year).
    11. Estimated Construction Startup Date (month/year).
    12. Total Project Cost.
    13. Amount of ID funds requested--Indicate amount of ID funds being 
requested. If a State is willing to accept partial funding of this 
amount, that should be indicated.
    14. An Obligation Schedule--Demonstrate how the State will obligate 
in FY 1999 all available IC and ID funds.
    15.. Commitment of Other Funds--Indicate the amounts and sources of 
any

[[Page 49952]]

private or other public funding being provided as part of this project. 
Only indicate those amounts of funding that are firm with documented 
commitments. The submission must include written confirmation of these 
commitments from the entity controlling the funds.
    16. Previous Interstate Discretionary (ID) Funding--Indicate the 
amount and fiscal year of any previous ID funds received for the 
project.
    17. Future Funding Needs--Indicate the estimated future funding 
needs for the project, the items of work to be completed and projected 
scheduling.
    18. Talking Points Briefing--A one-page talking points paper 
covering basic project information for each candidate project submitted 
for ID funding is needed for use by the Office of the Secretary for the 
congressional notification process in the event a project is selected 
for funding. For your guidance a sample paper is attached to this 
memorandum.

Division Office Responsibilities

    In order to ensure that the submitted candidate projects are 
complete and properly prepared, the division office must:
    1. Provide the information regarding project eligibility, selection 
criteria and submission requirements to the State transportation 
agency, and
    2. Review all candidate project applications submitted by the State 
prior to sending them to this office to ensure that they are complete 
and meet the above requirements.
    We are requesting that candidate project submissions be forwarded 
to the Chief, Federal-Aid and Design Division, HNG-12, not later than 
September 15, 1998. Projects received after this date may not receive 
full consideration.
    When sending in candidate projects, the States must understand that 
any qualified project may or may not be selected and it may be 
necessary to supplement allocated ID funds with other Federal-aid and/
or State funds to construct a section of highway which will be usable 
to the traveling public in as short a period of time as possible.
    Allocations of ID funds shall remain available until expended. 
Obligation limitation will be distributed with each allocation of 
funds.
    As a reminder, any requests to adjust the amount of ID funds 
allocated to a previously approved project must be forwarded in writing 
to the Chief, Federal-Aid and Design Division, HNG-12, for approval. 
Furthermore, funds from unobligated allocations or project underruns 
cannot be used for another ID project without the written approval of 
the Chief, Federal-Aid and Design Division.
    Questions concerning preparation of applications and other matters 
may be directed to Mr. Cecilio Leonin of the Federal-Aid and Design 
Division, HNG-12, telephone (202) 366-4651.
Signed by Thomas J. Ptak.

Attachment--Sample Talking Points Briefing for Secretary Slater

    Note: These talking points will be used by the Office of the 
Secretary in making congressional notification contacts. Since some 
of the recipients of the calls may not be closely familiar with the 
highway program, layman's language should be used to the extent 
possible. Information contained in the talking points may be used by 
a member of Congress in issuing a press release announcing the 
discretionary allocation.

Interstate Discretionary (ID) Funds

Grantee: 
Project No: ID-xxx-x(xxx)
    
FHWA Funds: $xx,xxx,xxx. 

     These two projects, in conjunction with a currently 
active contract, complete the reconstruction and widening of the 
existing four-lane I-xx through Any town, Your State. Project ID-
xxx-x(xxx) extends along I-xx from U.S. 25 (Augusta Road) to the 
Reedy River, a distance of 2.2 miles. Project ID-xxx-y(yyy) extends 
along I-xx from Highway 20 to U.S. 25, a distance of 1.8 miles.
     Project ID-xxx-x(xxx) is in Congressional district . Project ID-xxx-y(yyy) is in Congressional 
district .
     These two projects, along with a new interchange on I-
ZZZ in Richland County will complete the Interstate System in .
     Both projects provide for the addition of a general 
purpose lane in each direction and resurfacing of the entire 
roadway. Also included are upgraded traffic signs and roadside 
safety features. The completed facility will provide for three lanes 
of traffic in each direction.
     These projects will be advertised for construction in 
 and are scheduled for completion in .
    
     Project ID-xxx-y(yyy) also includes the creation of zz 
acres of replacement wetlands as an environmental mitigation.
     Project ID-xxx-x(xxx) will be the second project in the 
State to incorporate the formal ``Partnering'' process in an effort 
to foster an environment of cooperation between the State and the 
contractor.

[FR Doc. 98-24915 Filed 9-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P