[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]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P