[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 171 (Friday, September 4, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45900-45901]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-21378]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative 
Research Program (STEP)

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Section 5207 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) established 
the Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative 
Research Program (STEP). The FHWA anticipates that resources for STEP 
or a similar program to carry out national research on issues related 
to planning, environment, and realty are likely to be included in 
future surface transportation legislation even though SAFETEA-LU 
expires at the end of this fiscal year. Legislation preceding SAFETEA-
LU--the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 
(ISTEA) and the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-
21)--provided resources for FHWA to carry out surface transportation 
research initiatives that included planning, environment, and realty 
research. SAFETEA-LU continued FHWA's research program funding and 
established STEP.
    The purpose of this notice is to announce the proposed FY 2010 STEP 
implementation strategy in anticipation that the FHWA is likely to 
receive resources for national research on issues related to 
environment and planning as a part of future transportation legislation 
and to request suggested lines of research for FY 2010 via the STEP Web 
site at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/step/index.htm. Stakeholder 
feedback from the STEP Web site provides useful research ideas and 
helps to prevent redundant areas of research, saving valuable research 
funds.

DATES: Suggestions for lines of research should be submitted to the 
STEP Web site on or before December 3, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Felicia Young, Office of Interstate 
and Border Planning, (202) 366-1263, [email protected]; or Grace 
Reidy, Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-6226; Federal Highway 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 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

    An electronic copy of this notice may be downloaded from the Office 
of the Federal Register's home page at http://www.archives.gov and the 
Government Printing Office's Web site at http://www.access.gpo.gov.

Background

    Section 5207 of SAFETEA-LU (Pub. L. 109-59, Aug. 10, 2005) 
established the Surface Transportation Environment and Planning 
Cooperative Research Program. STEP was codified in section 507 of Title 
23, United States Code. The FHWA anticipates that the STEP or a similar 
program, to provide resources for national research on issues related 
to planning, environment, and realty, is likely to be included in 
future surface transportation legislation. The general objective of 
STEP is to improve understanding of the complex relationship between 
surface transportation, planning, and the environment.
    SAFETEA-LU provided $16.875 million per year for fiscal years 
2006--2009 to implement this cooperative research program. Due to 
obligation limitations, rescissions, and Congressional designation of 
Title V Research in SAFETEA-LU, on average $13 million of the $16.875 
million authorized was available each fiscal year. We anticipate 
similar funding levels in the next authorization or related legislation 
to extend SAFETEA-LU.
    STEP is the primary source of funds for FHWA to conduct research 
and develop tools and technologies to advance the state of the practice 
regarding national surface transportation and environmental 
decisionmaking. In FY 2010, the FHWA expects to seek partnerships that 
can

[[Page 45901]]

leverage limited research funding in STEP with other stakeholders and 
partners in order to increase the total amount of resources available 
to address the nation's surface transportation research needs.
    In FY 2010, the FHWA anticipates that it is likely to receive funds 
for STEP or other research funding to:
    (1) Conduct research to develop climate change mitigation and 
adaptation strategies;
    (2) Improve state of the practice regarding livability and the 
impact of transportation on the environment;
    (3) Develop and/or support the implementation of models and tools 
for evaluating transportation measures and develop indicators of 
economic, social, and environmental performance of transportation 
systems;
    (4) Develop and deploy research to address congestion reduction 
efforts;
    (5) Develop transportation safety planning strategies for surface 
transportation systems and improvements;
    (6) Improve planning, operation, and management of surface 
transportation systems and rights of way;
    (7) Enhance knowledge of strategies to improve transportation in 
rural areas and small communities;
    (8) Strengthen and advance State/local and tribal capabilities 
regarding surface transportation and the environment;
    (9) Improve transportation decisionmaking and coordination across 
borders;
    (10) Conduct research to promote environmental streamlining/
stewardship;
    (11) Disseminate research results and advances in state of the 
practice through peer exchanges, workshops, conferences, etc;
    (12) Meet additional priorities as determined by the Secretary; and
    (13) Refine the scope and research emphases through active outreach 
and in consultation with stakeholders.
    The FHWA is issuing this notice to: (1) Announce the proposed FY 
2010 STEP Implementation Strategy in anticipation of future surface 
transportation legislation, and (2) solicit comments on proposed 
research activities likely to be undertaken in the FY 2010 STEP via the 
STEP Web site. The STEP Implementation Strategy includes updated 
information regarding historical planning and environment research 
funding and proposed FY 2010 STEP funding levels, goals, and research 
activities.
    We invite the public to visit this Web site to obtain additional 
information on STEP, as well as information on the process for 
forwarding comments to FHWA regarding the STEP implementation plan. The 
URL for the STEP Web site is:http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/step/index.htm. The FHWA will use this Web site as a major mechanism for 
informing the public regarding the status of STEP.

    Authority:  23 U.S.C. 507.

    Issued on August 31, 2009.
Victor M. Mendez,
Federal Highway Administrator.
[FR Doc. E9-21378 Filed 9-3-09; 8:45 am]
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