[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 20, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56985-56987]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-24174]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Joint Partnership Rail Grade Crossing Safety Project

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and solicitation of proposals.

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SUMMARY: This Notice announces the solicitation of proposals for the 
deployment of innovative rail transit grade crossing and safety 
technology through the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Joint 
Partnership Program (JPP). As the interest in and demand for efficient 
rail transit operating in a shared corridor environment increases, the 
challenge to provide safe, and cost-effective service will continue to 
grow. FTA seeks to evaluate and deploy innovative technologies that 
will enhance the safe operation of rail transit in mixed traffic 
situations. This deployment will contribute towards the widespread 
introduction and adoption of innovation to solve grade crossing and 
other critical safety challenges affecting rail transit operations.

DATES: Proposals (6 copies) must be received by November 6, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Proposals shall be submitted to Elaine Dezenski, Office of 
Research, Demonstration and Innovation, Federal Transit Administration, 
400 Seventh Street, SW, Room 9401, Washington, DC 20590 and shall 
reference Joint Partnership Rail Grade Crossing Safety Project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elaine Dezenski, Joint Partnership 
Program Manager at (202) 493-2633.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 5314(a) of Title 49, U.S.C., 
provides resources for research, development, or demonstration projects 
that will assist in the improvement of mass transportation service. 
FTA's National Planning and Research budget for fiscal year 2000 
includes $400,000 for the deployment of rail grade crossing and safety 
technology. Note: FTA anticipates that additional funding will be made 
available in FY 2001 and 2002 to continue the support of projects in 
this area. Therefore, it is anticipated that this solicitation could 
support a multi-year project.
    There are significant safety challenges facing a growing number of 
rail transit providers, in particular, rail transit providers that 
operate or anticipate operating services in shared rail corridors with 
railroads, or in mixed vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Advancements 
in grade crossing and safety technology are an important part of 
addressing safety concerns that arise when mixed modes of 
transportation are operating in the same environment.
    There are over 190 projects authorized for Section 5309 New Starts 
funding in TEA-21 that are undertaking the FTA New Starts planning and 
project development process. Many of the project sponsors have 
identified safety concerns in locations where there is a proposed rail 
grade crossing, a shared corridor grade crossing, mixed traffic rail 
operations, and pedestrian crossings. Project sponsors, together with 
suppliers of technology, are encouraged to participate in this 
solicitation to assess potential technological solutions to safety 
concerns early in the project development process. Under the JPP, 
authorized pursuant to 49, U.S.C., 5312(d), the Secretary may enter 
into grants, contracts, cooperative agreements and ``other agreements'' 
with competitively selected consortia to promote early deployment of 
innovation in mass transportation services, management, operational 
practices, or technology. Accordingly, FTA's JPP is seeking innovative 
partnerships with eligible consortia to share in the costs, risks and 
rewards of deploying new rail grade crossing and safety technologies.

Table of Contents

I. Background
II. Program Vision, Goals and Objectives
III. Joint Partnership Guidelines
IV. Technology Considerations
V. Submission of Candidate Proposals
VI. Evaluations and Selection

I. Background

    Since 1994, DOT has initiated a number of cross-modal efforts to 
improve grade crossing safety, including the development of ITS 
technologies at highway-rail intersections, and the demonstration of 
new signs, signals, and train control systems. In addition, FTA has 
also implemented grade crossing safety activities that support the 
goals and objectives identified in the FTA Research & Technology 5-Year 
Plan (October 1999). For further information on the Plan, see section 
II (b) below or www.fta.dot.gov/research. For additional information on 
FTA grade crossing projects, see Transit Cooperative Research Report 
no.17, Integration of Light Rail Transit into City Streets, 1996, and 
the National Cooperative Highway Research Programs Synthesis 271, 
Traffic Signal Operations Near Highway-Rail Grade Crossings, 1999 
available from Transportation Research Board's web site www.national-academies.org/trb/bookstore.
    Operating light rail and commuter rail transit presents unique 
safety challenges at highway and pedestrian intersections. One of the 
major challenges facing rail transit operators is to effectively 
address the problem of operating trains at grade, across intersections, 
where they may conflict with motor vehicles and pedestrians. Rail 
transit systems across the United States have experienced grade 
crossing accidents. While there is no universal solution to the 
problem, transit operators across the nation are either conducting or 
evaluating various means to effectively provide additional

[[Page 56986]]

warnings or ways to prevent/deter motorists and pedestrians from making 
illegal maneuvers at grade crossings. The problem of motorists and 
pedestrians disregarding the traditional warning devices at crossings 
is particularly pronounced. For example, safety concerns arise when 
rail transit operates in a shared corridor with freight, or commuter 
service, or if the alignment includes parallel streets along the right-
of-way from which right and left turns can be made across the tracks. 
Limited information as well as lack of real-time information on the 
operational status of grade crossing equipment is also an area of 
concern. Dispatch centers often lack real-time information on whether 
grade crossing equipment is functioning properly. Improved control 
center diagnostics, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and other 
applications that contribute to more viable command and control 
operations may be considered. The demonstration of new and innovative 
technology to alleviate such safety hazards is critical to ensuring 
safe, reliable, shared corridor operations.

II. Program Vision, Goals and Objectives

    The Joint Partnership Rail Grade Crossing Safety Project will 
support the goals and objectives of the One DOT Highway Rail Grade 
Crossing Team (Team). The Team promotes cross-modal strategies and 
research activities to improve grade crossing safety along the nation's 
surface transportation infrastructure. Further, the project will 
support the U.S. Department of Transportation's number one strategic 
goal--to promote the public health and safety by working toward the 
elimination of transportation related deaths, injuries, property 
damage, and the improvement of personal security and property 
protection. The project will also support FTA's Strategic Goals and the 
FTA Research & Technology 5-Year Plan Program areas, as described in 
paragraphs (a) and (b) below.
    (a) Related FTA Strategic Goals:
    (1) Safety and Security--Promote the public health and safety by 
working toward the elimination of transit-related deaths, injuries, 
property damage, and the improvement of personal security and property 
protection.
    (2) Mobility and Accessibility--Shape America's future by ensuring 
a transportation system that is accessible, integrated, efficient, and 
offers a flexibility of choice.
    (3) Economic Growth and Trade--Advance America's economic growth 
and competitiveness domestically and internationally through efficient 
and flexible transportation.
    (4) Human and Natural Environment--Protect and enhance communities 
and the natural environment affected by transit.
    (b) Related FTA Research & Technology 5-Year Plan Program Areas:
(1) Safety & Security
Railroad Grade Crossing Safety
Information Security
(2) Equipment & Infrastructure
Rail Equipment and Systems
Communication-Based Train Control Systems
(3) Fleet Operations
Transit Capacity and Quality of Service
Transit Intelligent Transportation Systems
Mixed Rail Corridor Operations

III. Joint Partnership Guidelines

1. General Authority

    Section 5312(d) of Title 49, U.S.C., authorizes the Secretary, 
under terms and conditions he prescribes, to enter into grants, 
contracts, cooperative agreements, and other agreements with consortia, 
to promote the early deployment of innovation in mass transportation 
services, management, operational practices, or technology that has 
broad applicability. This program is intended to be carried out in 
consultation with the transit industry by merit-based, competitively 
selected consortia that will share in the costs, risks, and rewards of 
early deployment of innovation.

2. Joint Partnership Agreements

    Historically, FTA has supported research, development, 
demonstration, and deployment of innovation through the use of grants 
and cooperative agreements. Since 1994, FTA has acted as agent for the 
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which pioneered use 
of ``other agreements'' as an alternative to grants and cooperative 
agreements. These ``other agreements'' have proven successful in 
situations where the other funding instruments did not provide 
sufficient flexibility to induce non-government, particularly 
commercial, entities to participate in partnership with the Government. 
FTA sought and received ``other agreement'' authority in TEA-21. In 
selecting from among grants, cooperative agreements and ``other 
agreements,'' FTA will select the instrument best suited to the goals 
and objectives of each Joint Partnership Project. Generally speaking, 
an ``other agreement'' will be used in those instances where one of the 
more traditional instruments is determined, in consultation with the 
potential partners, to be inappropriate for one or more reasons.

3. Definition of Consortium

    An eligible consortium:
    (a) Means 1 or more public or private organizations located in the 
United States that provide mass transportation service to the public, 
and 1 or more businesses, including small- and medium-sized businesses, 
incorporated in a State, offering goods or services, or willing to 
offer goods and services, to mass transportation operators; and
    (b) May include, as additional members, public or private research 
organizations located in the United States or State or local 
governmental authorities.

4. Financing

    (a) Cost Sharing. Section 5312(d)(3) provides that a consortium 
assisted under the JPP contribute not less than 50 percent of the costs 
of any joint partnership project. FTA participation is limited to 
$400,000 for this solicitation. However, as stated above, FTA 
anticipates receiving additional funding to support related programs in 
FY 2001 and 2002. Applicants may propose multi-year tasks, if 
applicable to their proposal. Any business, organization, person, or 
governmental body may contribute funds to a JPP. FTA will apply the 
same non-Federal share rules to the JPP applications as apply to other 
FTA assistance programs. Cash or in-kind contributions applicable to 
grants and cooperative agreements with state and local governments, 
non-profit organizations or educational institutions, are acceptable. 
See 49 CFR Parts 18 and 19.

IV. Technology Considerations

    FTA has evaluated a number of grade crossing safety applications 
for light rail and commuter rail transit operations. The listing below 
gives a few examples of the types of projects that have been funded in 
the last five years. Applicants may expand on lessons learned from 
these efforts or evaluate and deploy new grade crossing safety 
innovations based on state-of-the-art technologies.

[[Page 56987]]



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            Project No./Title                         Abstract                Cost    Grantee and/or Consultants
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MA-26-7057, Advanced Signal & Gate        Evaluate engineering              $380,000  Massachusetts Bay Area
 Technologies for MBTA Grade Crossings.    improvements at commuter rail               Transportation Authority.
                                           grade crossing with severe
                                           traffic problems and safety
                                           concerns.
MA-03-7001, Four Quadrant Gated Grade     Evaluate design and operational    300,000  Massachusetts Bay Area
 Crossing.                                 standards/safety enhancements               Transportation Authority.
                                           for commuter rail grade
                                           crossings. Demonstrate use of
                                           four quadrant gates with
                                           vehicle detection system at
                                           commuter rail grade crossing.
MD-26-7024, Second Train Coming Warning   Develop & evaluate use of          200,000  Mass Transportation
 Sign.                                     active 2nd train warning sign               Administration Baltimore,
                                           for motorists at light rail                 MD.
                                           grade crossings. The warning
                                           sign will alert motorists who
                                           are stopped at the crossing
                                           that a second high-speed train
                                           is coming from the opposite
                                           direction.
CA-26-7017, Second Train Coming Warning   Develop & evaluate use of          200,000  Los Angeles County
 Sign.                                     graphic 2nd train sign for                  Metropolitan
                                           pedestrians at rail grade                   Transportation Authority.
                                           crossings. This project is in
                                           conjunction with MD-26-7024,
                                           and will include field study
                                           of an active second train
                                           warning sign.
CA-26-7010, Assessment of Left Turn       Field test and technical           200,000  Los Angeles County
 Crossing Gates for LRT.                   studies to investigate left                 Metropolitan
                                           turn railroad crossing gated                Transportation Authority.
                                           for light rail transit (LRT)
                                           grade crossings. Field test to
                                           include evaluation of track
                                           area vehicle detection systems.
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V. Submission of Candidate Proposals

    FTA is soliciting proposals for Joint Partnership Rail Grade 
Crossing Projects from eligible consortia. The proposal should outline 
the following in abbreviated form:
    (1) Overview of the proposed effort, or proposed concept;
    (2) List of partners, including one or more developers of 
technology and one or more transit operators;
    (3) State of the technology;
    (4) Work to be performed,
    (5) Physical and/or operating characteristics of the innovation;
    (6) Development of prototype equipment/process or pilot program;
    (7) Schedule;
    (8) Total project cost, including source of matching funds 
(private, non-profit, commercial, Title 49, U.S.C., discretionary or 
formula, Congestion Management Air Quality (CMAQ) Intelligent 
Transportation Systems (ITS), etc.);
    (9) Assessment plan; and
    (10) Relationship to FTA Research & Technology Five-Year Plan 
Program areas listed in paragraph II (b) of this Notice.

VI. Evaluation and Selection

    In evaluating the proposals received, FTA will consider the 
following factors:
    (1) State of technology and applicability to solving mixed-use 
operational challenges;
    (2) Management capability and technical expertise of consortium;
    (3) Proposed cost share;
    (4) Cost and benefits (payback) of proposed work;
    (5) Time to complete test and evaluation of the concept or 
technology;
    (6) Realistic probability of wide spread application of technology; 
and
    (7) Relative technical and financial risk.
    As previously mentioned, proposals (6 copies) must be received by 
45 days from the date of this notice. Proposals should be sent to the 
name and address in the ``Addresses'' section of this Notice.

    Issued on: September 14, 2000.
Michael Winter,
Associate Administrator for Budget and Policy
[FR Doc. 00-24174 Filed 9-19-00; 8:45 am]
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