[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 95 (Tuesday, May 19, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23466-23467]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-11597]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2009-0045]


Capital Assistance for High Speed Rail Corridors and Intercity 
Passenger Rail Service: Public Input on Recovery Act Guidance to 
Applicants

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of public docket.

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SUMMARY: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) 
became law on February 17, 2009. ARRA provides $8 billion to the 
Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) for grants for capital 
assistance for high speed rail corridors and intercity passenger rail 
service. In April 2009, in accordance with ARRA, the Secretary 
submitted a strategic plan Vision for High Speed Rail in America 
(http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/31) that describes how the Secretary 
will use these funds to improve and deploy high speed passenger rail 
systems to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations. ARRA also 
requires FRA to issue on or before June 17, 2009 interim guidance 
regarding grant terms, conditions, and procedures until final 
regulations are issued. This interim guidance will address the high 
speed rail corridor program, capital assistance for intercity passenger 
rail service grants, and congestion grants. FRA seeks input from the 
public on issues that should be addressed in the interim guidance and 
specific recommendations on the criteria to be used in evaluating grant 
applications.

DATES: Comments must be received by June 5, 2009. FRA will consider 
late filed comments to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods.
     Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
     U.S. Post or Express Mail: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: The West Building of the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.
    Instructions: You must include the agency name (Federal Railroad 
Administration) and the Docket number (FRA-2009-0045) at the beginning 
of your comment. You should include two copies of your comment if you 
submit it by mail. If you wish to receive confirmation that FRA 
received your comment, you must include a self-addressed stamped 
postcard. Note that FRA will post all comments that it receives, 
including any personal information provided therein, without change, to 
http://www.regulations.gov.
    Due to security procedures in effect since October 2001 regarding 
mail deliveries, mail received through the

[[Page 23467]]

U.S. Postal Service may be subject to delays. A party that submits a 
comment responsive to this notice should consider using an express mail 
firm to ensure the prompt filing of any submissions not filed 
electronically or by hand.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Kulat, Public Affairs 
Specialist, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, 
SE., West Building-3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20590; Telephone: (202) 
493-6024.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: President Barack Obama and Secretary Ray 
LaHood have voiced a commitment to further develop and refine a world-
class network of high-speed passenger rail corridors and intercity 
passenger rail service. The President proposes to jump-start the 
process with the $8 billion down payment provided in ARRA. ARRA directs 
funds toward projects that will aid in near-term economic recovery, 
while laying a foundation for longer-term economic stability and 
competitiveness. These first steps emphasize strategic investments that 
will yield tangible benefits to intercity rail infrastructure, 
equipment, performance, and intermodal connections over the next 
several years, while also creating a ``pipeline'' of projects to enable 
future corridor development.
    The forthcoming guidance will describe in more detail the 
application prerequisites for each program along with the specific 
criteria that will be used to evaluate applications. The scope and 
specificity of each project will vary, but all applications will most 
likely need to address planning and project development, stakeholder 
agreements, financial plans, and risk management plans.
    As President Obama outlined in his March 20, 2009, memorandum, 
Ensuring Responsible Spending of Recovery Act Funds, implementing 
agencies are to:

Develop transparent, merit-based selection criteria that will guide 
their available discretion in committing, obligating, or expending 
funds under the Recovery Act.

    FRA is committed to carrying out this requirement through clear 
selection criteria and evaluation procedures. In preparing the 
selection criteria and evaluation procedures, FRA seeks structured 
input from stakeholders and the public on the criteria to be used in 
evaluating grant applications in order to achieve a new national 
network of high speed intercity passenger rail corridors.

     Issued in Washington, DC, on May 12, 2009.
Joseph C. Szabo,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E9-11597 Filed 5-18-09; 8:45 am]
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