[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 129 (Thursday, July 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38446-38447]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-6023]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket Number FHWA-2005-22986]


Notice of Public Meetings on Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) 
for Statewide and Metropolitan Planning Requirements

AGENCIES: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Federal Highway 
Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the dates, times, and locations of six 
public meetings and a national Webcast to be held in July and August 
2006 concerning a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Statewide and 
Metropolitan Planning Requirements. Presentations delivered at these 
meetings will describe the provisions of the NPRM jointly issued by the 
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Federal Highway Administration 
(FHWA) on June 9, 2006 to provide guidance on implementing the planning 
provisions of Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation 
Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), the Federal surface 
transportation law.

DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for meeting dates.

ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for meeting locations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For FTA, Effie S. Stallsmith, Office 
of Planning and Environment, at [email protected] or 202-366-
5653, or Christopher Van Wyk, Office of Chief Counsel, 202-366-1733. 
For FHWA, Robert Ritter, Office of Planning, 202-493-2139. Both 
agencies are located at 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. 
Office hours for FTA are from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. Office hours for FHWA are from 7:45 
a.m. to 4:15 p.m. e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The meetings listed below will provide a 
forum for FTA and FHWA staffs to make oral presentations on the Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for Statewide and Metropolitan Planning. 
Additionally, the sessions are intended to encourage interested parties 
and stakeholders to submit their comments directly to the official 
docket by the close of the public comment period on September 7, 2006, 
per the instructions found in the NPRM at 71 FR 33510 (June 9, 2006).

I. Meetings

    The following are the 2006 Statewide and Metropolitan Planning NPRM 
public outreach session meeting dates and addresses:
    1. Wednesday, July 19, 2006, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. eastern standard 
time, Atlanta, GA--Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center (auditorium), 61 
Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, GA 30303.
    2. Friday, July 21, 2006, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. eastern standard time, 
New York, NY--Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House (auditorium), One 
Bowling Green, New York City, NY 10004.
    3. Monday, July 24, 2006, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. central standard time, 
Kansas City,

[[Page 38447]]

MO--Radisson Hotel and Suites Kansas City-City Center, 1301 Wyandotte, 
Kansas City, MO 64105.
    4. Tuesday, August 1, 2006, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Pacific standard 
time, San Francisco, CA--Metropolitan Transportation Commission 
Building (auditorium), MetroCenter, 101 Eighth Street, Oakland, CA 
94607.
    5. Monday, August 7, 2006, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. central standard time, 
Chicago, IL--Harold Washington Library Center (Multipurpose Room-B), 
400 South State Street, Chicago, Illinois 60605.
    6. Wednesday, August 9, 2006, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. eastern standard 
time, Cambridge, MA--John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems 
Center (auditorium), 55 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02142.

II. Presentations and Comment Format

    Generally, there will be at least two speakers delivering a 
presentation of approximately 1.5 hours. Meeting participants should 
arrive early since each meeting is anticipated to begin promptly at the 
appointed time.

A. Questions and Comments

    Meeting attendees will have an opportunity to pose questions to the 
speakers and to the group as a whole. It is the responsibility of 
individuals who wish for their comments to become part of the official 
public record to submit their comments directly to the U.S. Docket via 
postal mail, fax, or through the online Docket Management System (DMS) 
by September 7, 2006. For instructions on how to submit comments to the 
docket (Docket Number FHWA-2005-22986), please refer to the NPRM 
located at 71 FR 33510 (June 9, 2006).

B. Registration

    Registration is not required for public meetings. However, in order 
to ensure adequate space and materials, participants are encouraged to 
register for one or more events online at http://www.environment.fta.dot.gov/nprm/register.asp.

III. Security, Building, and Parking Guidelines

    Some meetings are held in Federal government buildings; therefore, 
Federal security measures are applicable. In planning your arrival 
time, we recommend allowing additional time to clear security. In order 
to gain access to the building and grounds, participants must display 
government-issued photo identification. Persons without proper 
identification may be denied access.
    Proper identification is required to access to following four 
meetings:
    1. Atlanta--Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center (auditorium), 61 
Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, GA 30303.
    2. New York--Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House (auditorium), One 
Bowling Green, New York City, NY 10004.
    3. San Francisco--Metropolitan Transportation Commission Building 
(auditorium), MetroCenter, 101 Eighth Street, Oakland, CA 94607.
    4. Cambridge--John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center 
(auditorium), 55 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02142.
    Security measures may also include inspection of vehicles, inside 
and out, at the entrance to the grounds. In addition, persons entering 
Federal buildings must pass through a metal detector. All items are 
subject to inspection.

IV. Special Accommodations

    All locations are ADA-accessible and sign language interpreters 
will be present at each meeting. Individuals attending a meeting who 
are hearing or visually impaired and have special requirements, or a 
condition that requires special assistance or accommodations, may 
indicate this on the online registration form or by calling Paul 
Christner at 617-494-3142.

V. Online Event

    In addition to the NPRM outreach sessions, FHWA and FTA will 
conduct a national Webcast on July 13, 2006 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. 
eastern standard time. The Webcast will include a presentation on the 
NPRM, and participants will have an opportunity to submit questions 
electronically. Interested parties may learn more and register for the 
event, which is hosted by the Center for Transportation and the 
Environment, at http://itre.ncsu.edu/cte/TechTransfer/Teleconferences/2006schedule.asp.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 5303-5304; 49 CFR 1.51.

    Issued on the 30th of June 2006.
Sandra K. Bushue,
Deputy Administrator, Federal Transit Administration.
J. Richard Capka,
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 06-6023 Filed 7-5-06; 8:45 am]
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