[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 249 (Thursday, December 28, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 78109-78110]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-22322]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

23 CFR Part 505

[FHWA Docket No. FHWA-05-23393]
RIN 2125-AF08


Projects of National and Regional Significance Evaluation and 
Rating

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

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

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is reopening the comment period for the notice of 
proposed rulemaking (NPRM) and request for comments, which was 
published on July 24, 2006, at 71 FR 41748. That NPRM proposed to 
establish the required evaluation and rating guidelines for projects 
proposed under the Projects of National and Regional Significance 
(PNRS) program. The original comment period closed on September 22, 
2006. The extension is based on the desire of the FHWA to receive the 
fullest and most comprehensive comments possible from the broadest 
group of stakeholders. During the initial analysis of comments the FHWA 
recognized that a number of subject areas were not commented upon, and 
significant segments of the transportation stakeholder community did 
not respond. The FHWA believes that those interested in commenting on 
this important program may not have had the opportunity to provide 
comments and that the comment period should be reopened. Therefore, the 
comment period is being reopened until February 9, 2007, which will 
provide those interested in commenting additional time to discuss, 
evaluate, and submit responses to the docket.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 9, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Mail or hand deliver comments to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Dockets Management Facility, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590, or submit electronically at http://dmses.dot.gov/submit or fax comments to (202) 366-7909. All comments 
should include the docket number that appears in the heading of this 
document. All comments received will be available for examination at 
the above address from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. Those desiring notification of receipt of 
comments must include a self-addressed, stamped postcard or print the 
acknowledgement page that appears

[[Page 78110]]

after submitting comments electronically. Anyone is able to search the 
electronic form of all comments in any one of our dockets by the name 
of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if 
submitted on behalf of an association, business, or labor union). You 
may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register 
published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70, Pages 19477-78) or 
you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Edward Strocko, Office of Freight 
Management and Operations, (202) 366-2997; or Ms. Alla Shaw, Office of 
the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-0764, U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Federal Highway Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590. Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., e.t., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access and Filing

    You may submit or retrieve comments online through the Document 
Management System (DMS) at: http://dmses.dot.gov/submit. Electronic 
submission and retrieval help and guidelines are available under the 
help section of the Web site. Alternatively, internet users may access 
all comments received by the DOT Docket Facility by using the universal 
resource locator (URL) http://dms.dot.gov. It is available 24 hours 
each day, 365 days each year. Please follow the instructions. An 
electronic copy of this document may also be downloaded by accessing 
the Office of the Federal Register's home page at: http://www.archives.gov or the Government Printing Office's Web page at: 
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara.

Background

    The Projects of National and Regional Significance program 
established under section 1301 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, 
Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (Pub. L. 109-
59) is intended to finance critical, high-cost transportation 
infrastructure facilities that address critical national economic and 
transportation needs. These projects often involve multiple levels of 
government, agencies, modes of transportation, and transportation goals 
and planning processes that are not easily addressed or funded within 
existing surface transportation program categories. Projects of 
National and Regional Significance would have national and regional 
benefits, including improving economic productivity by facilitating 
international trade, relieving congestion, and improving transportation 
safety by facilitating passenger and freight movement. Additionally, 
this program would further the goals of the Secretary's Congestion 
Initiative.\1\
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    \1\ Speaking before the National Retail Foundation's annual 
conference on May 16, 2006, in Washington, DC, former U.S. 
Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta unveiled a new plan to reduce 
congestion plaguing America's roads, rail and airports. The National 
Strategy to Reduce Congestion on America's Transportation Network 
includes a number of initiatives designed to reduce transportation 
congestion and is available at the following URL: http://isddc.dot.gov/OLPFiles/OST/012988.pdf.
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    The benefits of PNRS would accrue beyond local areas and States to 
the Nation as a whole. A program dedicated to constructing PNRS would 
improve the safe, secure, and efficient movement of people and goods 
throughout the United States as well as improve the health and welfare 
of the national economy.
    On July 24, 2006, at 71 FR 41748, the FHWA published a NPRM 
proposing the establishment of regulations for 23 CFR 505, the 
evaluation and rating guidelines for projects proposed for funding 
under the PNRS program. The FHWA is looking for specific and detailed 
comments that contribute to the definition of grant criteria, project 
eligibility, project ratings, and the nature and form of full funding 
grant agreements. The FHWA specifically invites comments that 
contribute to an understanding and a quantification of criteria related 
to congestion, system throughput, safety, technology, private 
contributions and national and/or regional economic benefits.
    The original comment period for the NPRM closed on September 22, 
2006. The FHWA recognizes that additional time will allow interested 
parties a broader and more comprehensive review and discussion of the 
proposed regulations; and then, allow the development and submission of 
complete responses to the docket. To allow time for interested parties 
to submit comprehensive comments, the comment period is being reopened 
until February 9, 2007.

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 101(a), 104, 109(d), 114(a), 217, 315, and 
402(a); 23 CFR 1.32 and 49 CFR 1.48(b).

    Issued on: December 21, 2006.
J. Richard Capka,
Federal Highway Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E6-22322 Filed 12-27-06; 8:45 am]
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