[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 12, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 1681]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-366]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Innovative Technology Administration


University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program Grants (49 U.S.C. 
5506); Suspension of Competitions

AGENCY: Research and Innovative Technology Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Transportation is providing notice that 
it intends to suspend competitions for its University Transportation 
Centers (UTC) Program grants (49 USC 5506) pending the enactment of 
multi-year, surface transportation authorization legislation that is 
necessary to define the purpose, eligibility, number, and funding 
amounts of any future grants.

DATES: Dates for future UTC competitions are not known at this time. As 
more information is available about future grant competitions, it will 
be posted on the UTC Program's Web site, http://utc.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Curtis Tompkins, University 
Transportation Centers Program, Office of Research, Development and 
Technology, RDT-30, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone Number 
(202) 366-2125, Fax Number (202) 493-2993 or E-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity 
Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU, Pub. L. 109-59, as amended by Pub. 
L. 110-244) requires the Research and Innovative Technology 
Administration (RITA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. 
DOT) to complete competitions for Regional UTCs by March 31, 2010, and 
for Tier I UTCs by June 30, 2010. Because there is no surface 
transportation authorization legislation or other authorizing vehicle 
yet in place to state the structure and funding of the UTC Program 
beyond Federal Fiscal Year 2009, and because of the burden that would 
be placed on applicants to pursue a competition process that has a high 
likelihood of being voided should a multi-year, surface transportation 
authorization substantially change the terms and conditions of the UTC 
Program and grants to be issued under that program, the Research and 
Innovative Technology Administration is suspending these competitions 
until such time as a multi-year surface transportation authorization 
has been enacted.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 18, 2009.
Peter H. Appel,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-366 Filed 1-11-10; 8:45 am]
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