[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 46 (Monday, March 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 13373]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-05138]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

[Docket No. DOT-OST--2014-0011]


National Freight Advisory Committee: Notice of Public Meeting

ACTION: Notice of Public Meeting.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announces a public 
meeting of its National Freight Advisory Committee (NFAC) to provide 
recommendations to the Department as it continues to develop the 
National Freight Strategic Plan (Plan). Meetings are open to the public 
and there will be a period of time at the end of the second day of the 
meeting for public comment.

DATES: Dates and Times: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 25, 
2014, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time and March 26, 
2014 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.
    Location: The meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tretha Chromey, Designated Federal 
Officer at (202) 366-1999 or [email protected] or visit the NFAC Web site 
at www.dot.gov/nfac.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: The NFAC was established to 
provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary on matters related 
to freight transportation in the United States, including (1) 
implementation of the freight transportation requirements of the Moving 
Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21; Pub. L. 112-141); 
(2) establishment of the National Freight Network; (3) development of 
the Plan; (4) development of strategies to help States implement State 
Freight Advisory Committees and State Freight Plans; (5) development of 
measures of conditions and performance in freight transportation; (6) 
development of freight transportation investment, data, and planning 
tools; and (7) legislative recommendations. The NFAC operates as a 
discretionary committee under the authority of the DOT, established in 
accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C. App. 2. See DOT's NFAC Web site for 
additional information about the committee's activities at www.dot.gov/nfac.
    MAP-21 directs the DOT to develop the Plan in consultation with 
State department of transportations and other appropriate stakeholders. 
The Plan must include:
    (A) An assessment of the condition and performance of the national 
freight network.
    (B) An identification of highway bottlenecks on the national 
freight network that create significant freight congestion problems, 
based on a quantitative methodology developed by the Secretary, which 
shall, at a minimum, include--
    (i) information from the Freight Analysis Network of the Federal 
Highway Administration; and
    (ii) to the maximum extent practicable, an estimate of the cost of 
addressing each bottleneck and any operational improvements that could 
be implemented.
    (C) Forecasts of freight volumes for the 20-year period beginning 
in the year during which the Plan is issued.
    (D) An identification of major trade gateways and national freight 
corridors that connect major population centers, trade gateways, and 
other major freight generators for current and forecasted traffic and 
freight volumes, the identification of which shall be revised, as 
appropriate, in subsequent plans.
    (E) An assessment of statutory, regulatory, technological, 
institutional, financial, and other barriers to improved freight 
transportation performance (including opportunities for overcoming the 
barriers).
    (F) An identification of routes providing access to energy 
exploration, development, installation, or production areas.
    (G) Best practices for improving the performance of the national 
freight network.
    (H) Best practices to mitigate the impacts of freight movement on 
communities.
    (I) A process for addressing multistate projects and encouraging 
jurisdictions to collaborate.
    (J) Strategies to improve freight intermodal connectivity.
The Plan serves as a document to outline a long-term strategy to 
implement the National freight policy. The goals of the National 
freight policy are related to economic competitiveness and efficiency; 
congestion; productivity; safety, security, and resilience of freight 
movement; infrastructure condition; use of advanced technology; 
performance, innovation, competition, and accountability in the 
operation and maintenance of the network; and environmental impacts. 
[23 U.S.C. 167]
    Agenda: The two day agenda will include:
    (1) Welcome, opening remarks, and introductions;
    (2) Update of the Department's National Freight Strategic Plan;
    (3) Discussion on proposed recommendations to the DOT on the 
following elements of the Plan:
     An assessment of statutory, regulatory, technological, 
institutional, financial, and other barriers to improved freight 
transportation performance (including opportunities for overcoming the 
barriers);
     Best practices for improving the performance of the 
national freight network; and
     Best practices to mitigate the impacts of freight movement 
on communities.
    (4) Public comment, which will occur at the end of day 2.
The meeting agenda will be posted on the NFAC Web site at www.dot.gov/nfac in advance of the meeting.
    Public Participation: This meeting will be open to the public. 
Members of the public who wish to attend in person are asked to RSVP to 
[email protected] with your name and affiliation no later than March 18, 
2014, in order to facilitate entry and guarantee seating.
    Services for Individuals with Disabilities: The public meeting is 
physically accessible to people with disabilities. Individuals 
requiring accommodations, such as sign language interpretation or other 
ancillary aids, are asked to notify Ms. Tretha Chromey, at (202) 366-
1999 or [email protected] five (5) business days before the meeting.
    Written comments: Persons who wish to submit written comments for 
consideration by the Committee must email [email protected] or send them 
to Ms. Tretha Chromey, Designated Federal Officer, National Freight 
Advisory Committee, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., W82-320, Washington, DC 
20590 by March 18, 2014 to provide sufficient time for review. All 
other comments may be received at any time before or after the meeting.

    Dated: March 4, 2014.
Tretha Chromey,
Designated Federal Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-05138 Filed 3-7-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P