[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 59 (Wednesday, March 27, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18674-18675]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-07024]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Innovative Technology Administration

[Docket RITA 2013-0002]


Invitation for Public Comment on Draft DOT Research, Development 
and Technology Strategic Plan (2013-2018)

AGENCY: Research and Innovative Technology Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice, request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) is providing 
notice of request for public comment on its draft strategic plan, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, Research, Development and Technology 
Strategic Plan FY 2013-2018. The new five-year strategic plan will 
guide the Department's research, development, and technology activities 
as required by Section 52013 of Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st 
Century Act (MAP-21), Public Law 112-141; July 6, 2012. The new plan 
places its focus on the U.S. DOT Strategic Goals: Safety; State of Good 
Repair; Economic Competitiveness; Livable Communities and Environmental 
Sustainability, along

[[Page 18675]]

with MAP-21 RD&T critical issues: Promoting safety; reducing congestion 
and improving mobility; preserving the environment; preserving existing 
transportation systems; improving the durability and extending the life 
of transportation infrastructure; and improving goods movement. The 
Research and Innovative Technology Administration's (RITA's) Office of 
Research, Development and Technology (RD&T), has coordinated this 
effort in collaboration with partner modal administrations and offices 
across the U.S. DOT. As recommended by the Government Accountability 
Office (GAO) and the National Research Council (NRC), RITA and its 
partners are seeking public stakeholder comment to ensure RD&T 
resources are invested wisely to achieve measurable improvements in our 
Nation's transportation system.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by April 26, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number 
RITA 2013-0002 by any of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
    Mail: Docket Management Facility: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Fax: 202-493-2251.
    Instructions: Identify docket number, RITA 2013-0002, at the 
beginning of your comments, and send two copies. To receive 
confirmation that DOT received your comments, include a self-addressed 
stamped postcard. Internet users may access all comments received by 
DOT at http://www.regulations.gov. All comments are posted 
electronically without charge or edits, including any personal 
information provided.
    Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all 
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you may visit http://DocketInfo.dot.gov.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov or the street 
address listed above. Follow the online instructions for accessing the 
dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Kevin Womack, Associate 
Administrator, Office of Research Development and Technology, Research 
and Innovative Technology Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue Street 
SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001, telephone (202) 366-5447 or email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    RITA was established as a separate administration within the United 
States Department of Transportation pursuant to the Norman Y. Mineta 
Research and Special Programs Improvement Act (Pub. L. 108-426), 
November 30, 2004, with the mandate to generate greater efficiency and 
increase the effectiveness of the U.S. DOT's coordination, analysis, 
and review of research programs, progress and products and in advancing 
innovative technology.
    The new draft strategic plan, U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Research, Development and Technology Strategic Plan FY 2013-2018, is 
the Department's second since RITA's inception. The Safe, Accountable, 
Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users 
(SAFETEA-LU) enacted in 2005 called for the U.S. DOT to develop a 
strategic plan to guide its RD&T activities. The previous Plan was 
published in 2006 and served as a compendium of modal research pursuits 
at that time. Section 52013 of Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st 
Century Act (MAP-21) enacted in 2012 called for the Department to 
develop a new five-year RD&T strategic plan. The new draft Plan pursues 
a more cross-modal, collaborative and strategic process to cover the 
years 2013-2018, and responds to feedback from the National Research 
Council's review (http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/reports/letterreport_usdotrd&tplan.pdf ), of the earlier plan published in 
2006, ``Transportation Research, Development and Technology Strategic 
Plan 2006-2010'', (http://www.rita.dot.gov/sites/default/files/rita_archives/rita_publications/transportation_rd_t_strategic_plan/index.html), and the recommendations of the GAO report published in 
2006, ``Transportation Research: Opportunities for Improving the 
Oversight of DOT's Research Programs and User Satisfaction with 
Transportation Statistics'' (http://www.gao.gov/assets/260/251162.html). The U.S. DOT, with leadership from RITA engaged in a 
collaborative process involving all of the U.S. DOT operating 
administrations. Two cross-modal bodies participated in the process: 
the RD&T Planning Team Council (composed of the heads of the operating 
administrations, the Under Secretary for Policy, and other senior U.S. 
DOT leaders) and the RD&T Planning Team which includes the Associate 
Administrators for RD&T in each operating administration. Through this 
Notice, the U.S. DOT is seeking input from stakeholders including 
individual citizens, members of the private sector, the academic 
community, non-governmental organizations, and other interested 
parties.
    Stakeholder's comments should be aligned, if possible, with the 
U.S. DOT Strategic Goals, the RD&T critical issues as outlined in MAP-
21 and combined in the draft Plan as well as listed in the Summary 
section of this notice. All comments will be considered that are 
received by the deadline that appears in the DATES section.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 15, 2013.
Gregory D. Winfree,
Deputy Administrator, Research and Innovative Technology 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2013-07024 Filed 3-26-13; 8:45 am]
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