[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 34 (Monday, February 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8635-8636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-4314]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

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.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is announcing a public meeting to solicit information 
that will assist the agency in implementing section 5103 of the 
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) 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 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 March 12, 1999.

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 Bridge 
Technology, (202) 366-6712; or Mr. Wilbert Baccus, Office of the Chief 
Counsel, (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 http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge.

[[Page 8636]]

Background

    On November 4, 1998, at 63 FR 59621, a notice was published on 
implementation information for Innovative Bridge Research and 
Construction Program funds [Pub. L. 105-178, 112 Stat. 107, 428 (1998), 
codified at 23 U.S.C. 503(b)]. This notice described the legislative 
basis for the program and the process for application for program funds 
for the fiscal years of 1998 and 1999. The notice further advised that 
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 notice also advised that 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 
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: February 16, 1999.
Henry H. Rentz,
Director of Program Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-4314 Filed 2-19-99; 8:45 am]
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