[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 123 (Monday, June 28, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34693-34696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-16357]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
International Mass Transportation Program
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This Notice announces the establishment of a new International
Mass Transportation Program (IMTP) by the Federal Transit
Administration (FTA). The purpose of the IMTP, which
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was authorized by Congress at FTA's request, is to strengthen the
domestic transit industry by providing it with greater access to
information about technological innovations and business opportunities
in the global marketplace. This notice describes the statutory basis
and proposed structure of the program, and solicits public comments and
expressions of interest.
DATES: August 27, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward L. Thomas, Associate
Administrator for Research, Demonstration and Innovation (TRI-1), at
(202) 366-4052, or Rita Daguillard, International Program Manager, at
(202) 366-0955, or in writing at Room 9401, 400 Seventh Street, SW,
Washington, DC 20590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The increasing globalization of the world economy has presented
great new opportunities and challenges for the mass transportation
industry. The vast array of technological innovations available
worldwide allows transit providers to offer quicker and better service,
attract new ridership, and maximize use of their equipment and
infrastructure. Moreover, the lowering of political and economic
barriers and the growth of information technology has created an
integrated and interconnected global marketplace.
In order to enhance its abilities to help the domestic transit
industry take advantage of this new technology and gain greater access
to international markets, FTA requested from Congress authorization to
establish an international program. On June 9, 1998, President Clinton
signed into law the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century
(TEA-21). Section 3015 of TEA-21 creates a new Section 5312(e) in Title
49, United States Code, which authorizes the Secretary of
Transportation to inform the United States domestic mass transportation
community about technological innovations available in the
international marketplace and to undertake activities that may afford
domestic businesses the opportunity to become globally competitive in
the export of mass transportation products and services. That section
provides:
1. Authority. Title 49 United States Code Section 3015(e)
International Mass Transportation Program provides broad authority
including:
a. Activities The Secretary is authorized to engage in activities
to inform the United States domestic mass transportation community
about technological innovations available in the international
marketplace and activities that may afford domestic businesses the
opportunity to become globally competitive in the export of mass
transportation products and services. Such activities may include--
(1) Development, monitoring, assessment, and dissemination
domestically information about worldwide mass transportation market
opportunities;
(2) Cooperation with foreign public sector entities in research,
development, demonstration, training, and other forms of technology
transfer and exchange of experts and information;
(3) Advocating, in international mass transportation markets of
firms, products and services available from the United States;
(4) Informing the international market about the technical quality
of mass transportation products and services through participation in
seminars, expositions, and similar activities; and
(5) Offering those Federal Transit Administration technical
services which cannot be readily obtained from the United States
private sector to foreign public authorities planning or undertaking
mass transportation projects if the cost of these services will be
recovered under the terms of each project.
b. Cooperation. The Secretary may carry out activities in
cooperation with other Federal agencies, State or local agencies,
public and private nonprofit institutions, government laboratories,
foreign governments, or any other organization the Secretary determines
is appropriate.
c. Funding. Funds available to carry out the IMTP include revenues
paid to the Secretary by any cooperating organization or person, and
may be used to carry out authorized activities, including necessary
promotional materials, travel, reception and representation expenses.
II. Program Structure
Both the FTA and U.S. Department of Transportation Strategic Plans
include advancing America's economic growth and competitiveness
domestically and internationally as a primary goal. This goal is the
product of extensive public outreach and reflects the input of both
public and private sectors of the U.S. mass transportation industry on
the proper role of the Federal Government in this area. The overall
structure of the IMTP has been designed with this goal in mind,
consistent with Congressional intent for the IMTP. Initially the
program has been divided into four basic functional categories:
Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreements
Technology/Information Exchange
Human Capacity Building
U. S. Industry Trade Support
Activities and outcomes envisioned for each area are discussed further
below. FTA seeks comments from the U.S. domestic mass transportation
industry and other interested parties on the proper roles of FTA and
other potential participants in each functional area. FTA also seeks
views and comments on the appropriateness of the functional areas
selected and whether additional functional areas should be included in
keeping with the strategic goals of the IMTP.
A. Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreements
Active government support for domestic industries is well
recognized as a key ingredient to success in the international trade
arena. Such support can take many forms as suggested below under the
functional category of U.S. Industry Trade Support. A distinctly
separate but interrelated function involves the mutual support of the
U.S. Government in carrying out its international relations provided to
foreign governments and international organizations. FTA and other
elements of the U.S. Department of Transportation have entered into a
variety of intergovernmental agreements involving technical assistance,
technology transfer, international standards, and the like with
numerous foreign governments. Implementation of the terms of these
agreements is likely to present a variety of trade opportunities for
the U.S. domestic transportation industry.
A principal outcome goal of the IMTP, consistent with the statutory
mandate, will be to increase activities in cooperation with other
Federal agencies, State or local agencies, public and private nonprofit
institutions, government laboratories, foreign governments, or industry
associations such as the American Public Transit Association and the
Intelligent Transportation Society of America.
B. Technology/Information Exchange
Over the past two decades, we have entered an Information Age that
has created social and economic changes as profound as those brought
about by the Industrial Revolution two centuries earlier. New
information technologies in the areas of fleet management, traveler
information, and electronic payment have greatly affected the delivery
of transportation services. A principal outcome goal of the IMTP is to
increase
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the availability of information to the U.S. domestic transportation
industry in the areas of global transportation innovation and trade. In
this Information Age it is impractical to think in terms of any one
agency serving as the single source of information for any industry.
However, given FTA's experience in international technology transfer
and information exchange, FTA can play a pivotal role. A primary
example is FTA's participation in the Transportation Research
Information Service (TRIS) and the international database, TRANSPORT,
which is the result of international cooperation among the U.S.
Department of Transportation, Transportation Research Board, Road
Transport Research Program of the Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development, and the European Conference of Ministers of Transport.
FTA is aware of complaints from the U.S. domestic transportation
industry that technology transfer and information exchange is heavily
weighted towards the outflow of U.S. know-how in dealings with certain
foreign government agencies and organizations, to the distinct
disadvantage of the U.S. domestic transportation industry. It is a
basic tenet of the IMTP that technology transfer and information
exchange be a two-way communication at all levels. Like
intergovernmental agreements, this area holds the potential for
offering additional trade opportunities for the U.S. domestic
transportation industry. It also serves as a major resource for
advancing FTA's goals in the area of human capacity building.
C. Human Capacity Building
This functional area includes a variety of activities directed
towards two primary outcome goals (1) increasing the capacity of the
U.S. domestic mass transportation industry to compete internationally;
and (2) increasing the technical capacity of foreign mass
transportation providers, both public and private, to meet the mobility
needs of their traveling publics.
Towards the first goal, FTA will offer basic and advanced training
to the U.S. domestic transportation industry in fundamentals of
international trade and finance. Such training would include a full
range of subjects such as U.S. Department of Commerce, State, and
Defense regulations affecting export of goods and services to
regulatory requirements applicable to foreign importers such as the
International Standards Organization (ISO) standards for quality
control (ISO 9000) and environmental protection (ISO 14000). FTA can
facilitate briefings by other Federal agencies such as U.S. Agency for
International Development for knowledge on the roles and resources
offered by such agencies to assist the U.S. domestic transportation
industry in the international arena. In carrying out these activities,
FTA will work closely with representatives of the U.S. domestic mass
transportation industry, such as the Business Members Board of
Governors of the American Public Transit Association, to identify and
prioritize industry needs.
Towards the second goal, FTA will assist foreign mass transit
providers, both public and private, in building the human capacity
necessary to plan, design, build and operate their own domestic
transportation systems. In so doing, FTA will showcase U.S.
transportation technology and innovative practices. To the maximum
extent practicable, this effort will be carried out through the
promotion and use of products and services offered by the U.S. domestic
mass transportation industry.
D. U.S. Industry Trade Support
The U.S. domestic transportation industry is inextricably entwined
with the international transportation industry. In today's global
marketplace the U.S. transportation industry simply cannot survive
unless it remains internationally competitive. The survival of other
U.S. domestic industries is similarly tied to the economic health and
vitality of the domestic transportation industry, as is the quality of
life and mobility options of all residents in the United States. But
what is the appropriate role for the FTA? TEA-21 is reasonably explicit
concerning the broad types of activities FTA may carry out under the
IMTP, as discussed under paragraph 1 above. Notwithstanding, FTA will
look to the U.S. transportation industry, both public and private
sector representatives, to say which of these activities are most
needed and how they should be deployed at any given time.
Thus, FTA has identified a series of concrete steps, in addition to
those previously discussed, which might be undertaken within the scope
of the IMTP, to supplement, rather than supplant, the efforts of the
industry itself and other stakeholders. FTA seeks comment and
suggestions on how FTA should approach each area, as well as thoughts
on other avenues that might be taken to achieve our strategic planning
goals.
III. Implementation and Funding of Program Activities
Section 3015 of TEA-21 provides that IMTP program activities may be
carried out with revenues paid to FTA by any cooperating organization
or person. FTA seeks recommendations and suggestions on how such
entities could make financial contributions to each of the proposed
IMTP activities. In particular, FTA seeks comment on which activities
should be funded; and, what levels of funding are appropriate for each
activity? Commenters are also invited to identify program activities in
addition to those listed below, indicate which organizations or
individuals would participate in them, and how and by whom they would
be funded. FTA will describe specific mechanisms for those program
activities in its final notice on the IMTP.
(1) International Mass Transit Displays
Visual displays, literature and promotional materials/items
supporting advocacy for U.S. efforts abroad would be provided. Video
presentations on the IMTP and products and services available from U.S.
domestic transportation industry suppliers would be prepared and
distributed for use by presenters at appropriate events such as those
sponsored by the American Public Transit Association, World Bank, State
Department, Commerce Department and similar organizations.
(2) Speakers Bureau
FTA can serve as a clearinghouse for representatives of the U.S.
domestic transportation industry willing to make speeches and provide
technical presentations at both national and international meetings,
conferences, trade fairs and the like.
(3) Co-sponsorship of International Conferences
It may be appropriate for FTA to provide a modest amount of funds,
through cooperative arrangements with other public and private sector
organizations, to co-sponsor events which provide opportunities for
promoting the goals of the IMTP.
(4) International Mass Transportation Program Forum
FTA envisons holding one or more outreach events to promote the
IMTP and to obtain public input on the program structure and direction.
(5) Scanning Tours
FTA plans to give continued support to the international scanning
tours conducted under the FTA's Transit Cooperative Research Program
managed
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by the National Academy of Sciences, Transportation Research Board,
whereby representatives of the U.S. domestic transit agencies travel to
foreign countries to acquaint themselves with innovative technologies
and solutions to transportation challenges. Similar tours could be
organized for members of the business community. Moreover, FTA
envisions establishing exchange programs which would bring foreign
nationals to the United States, both to educate and inform the U.S.
transportation industry, and to learn what the U.S. domestic industry
may have to offer. This is a particularly promising venue for promoting
the export of U.S. goods and services.
(6) Trade Missions
FTA could co-sponsor trade missions for various sectors of the U.S.
domestic transportation industry either directly or through the
auspices of other organizations such as the Commerce Department.
(7) Identification of Opportunities
FTA cannot hope to duplicate the resources of either government
agencies whose principal function concerns international trade, or
large international firms, when it comes to identifying overseas
business opportunities. However, FTA can assist those entities in
identifying domestic companies which are not yet engaged in
international commerce, but could partner with the more sophisticated
entities for mutual benefit. Additionally, implementation of our
international agreements frequently involves discussion of technical
matters that could lead to business opportunities for the U.S. domestic
transportation industry.
III. Request for Comments
FTA is seeking comment on these proposed activities and expressions
of interest from all stakeholders with an interest in the IMTP. After
consideration of these comments, FTA will publish a final notice
describing the activities to be undertaken under the IMTP.
Issued on: June 22, 1999.
Gordon J. Linton,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 99-16357 Filed 6-25-99; 8:45 am]
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