[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 144 (Wednesday, July 26, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45942-45943]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18916]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

23 Parts 655 and 940

[FHWA Docket No. FHWA-99-5899]
RIN 2125-AE65


Intelligent Transportation System Architecture and Standards

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); extension of comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: This document extends this rulemaking's comment period until 
September 23, 2000. This is in response to numerous letters received 
from State departments of transportation, transit operators, and 
metropolitan planning organizations requesting an extension of the 
comment period from the closing date. These groups based their request 
on the time required to assess the impact of this rule on the nation's 
highway and transit systems and provide meaningful comments.

DATES: Comments to the NPRM should be received no later than September 
23, 2000. Late comments will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Signed, written comments 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, S.W., 
Washington, D.C. 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. Michael Freitas, Intelligent 
Transportation Systems Joint Program Office (HOIT-1), (202) 366-9292; 
Mr. Robert Rupert, Office of Travel Management (HOTM-1), (202) 366-
2194; or Mr. Wilbert Baccus, Office of the Chief Counsel (HCC-32), 
(202) 366-1346, Federal Highway Administration, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Washington, D.C. 20590. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    Internet users may access all comments received by the U.S. DOT 
Dockets, Room PL-401, by using the

[[Page 45943]]

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 by using a 
computer, modem, and suitable communications software from the 
Government Printing Office's Electronic Bulletin Board Service at (202) 
512-1661. Internet users may reach the Office of 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.
    The document may also be viewed at the DOT's intelligent 
transportation systems (ITS) home page at http://www.its.dot.gov.

Background

    On May 25, 2000 (65 FR 33994), the FHWA published an NPRM proposing 
the establishment of regulations to implement a portion of section 
5206(e) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) 
(Public Law 105-178, 112 Stat. 107) which requires ITS projects funded 
from the highway trust fund to conform to the National ITS 
Architecture, applicable or provisional standards, and protocols.
    The DOT has received requests from the American Association of 
State Highway and Transportation Officials, the American Public 
Transportation Association, the Association of Metropolitan Planning 
Organizations, and several State departments of transportation to 
extend the comment period. These groups voiced concerns that the 
proposed rule was extremely complex and that 90 days was insufficient 
time to assess the impact of the proposed rules and provide meaningful 
comments. We agree that more time for an in-depth analysis of the NPRM 
would be beneficial to the FHWA in this rulemaking. For these reasons 
the FHWA finds good cause to extend this NPRM comment period closing 
date by 30 days.

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 101, 109, 315, and 508; sec. 5206(e), Pub. 
L. 105-178; 112 Stat. 457 (23 U.S.C. 502 note); and 49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued on: July 17, 2000.
Kenneth R. Wykle,
Federal Highway Administrator.
[FR Doc. 00-18916 Filed 7-25-00; 8:45 am]
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