Announcement of Availability of the Surface Transportation Research and Development Plan, Third Edition; Request for Comments

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration

[Notice Number 96-1]

Announcement of Availability of the Surface Transportation

Research and Development Plan, Third Edition; Request for Comments

AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Report Availability; Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Transportation (DOT) announces the

publication of the third edition of the Surface Transportation Research

and Development Plan (R&D Plan), copies of which are available from the

contact listed below or on the World Wide Web at the INTERNET address

listed below. In addition, the Department invites comments to assist it

in the preparation of the fourth edition of this report.

Under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA),

DOT is required to prepare the R&D Plan for its near- and long-term

surface transportation research and development (R&D) activities. The

Department has begun preparation of the fourth edition, which will be

the last required under ISTEA.

DATES: Comments on the report should be postmarked no later than

January 23, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments on changes, suggestions for improvement, or

specific issues to include in the fourth edition of the report should

be sent to: Norm Paulhus, Senior Technical Advisor (DRT-1), Research

and Special Programs Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation,

400 7th Street, SW Room 8417, Washington, DC 20590. Comments must be

signed, and should include the name, address, and telephone number of

the point of contact. One additional copy of the comments should be

sent to Kevin Green at the address listed below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Green, Volpe National

Transportation Systems Center, Kendall Square, DTS-24, Cambridge, MA

02142. Telephone: (617)-494-2106. Internet: [email protected].

Copies of the third edition may be obtained from Mr. Green. The

complete text of the third edition of the R&D Plan is also available on

the World Wide Web at http://www.volpe.dot.gov/pblctns.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

This notice announces the publication of, and solicits comments on,

the third edition of the R&D Plan. The report presents details of the

Department's near-term surface transportation R&D programs, and

presents a strategic long-term outlook for surface transportation R&D.

The report is prepared under authority provided in Section 6009(b) of

the ISTEA, which expires in 1997. In preparing the fourth edition of

the R&D Plan, the Department will consider public comments and

suggested changes raised during review of the third edition.

Purpose

DOT is committed to promoting a safe and efficient transportation

system that enhances the U.S. economy and contributes to a secure and

healthy environment. In January 1994, the Department issued its

Strategic Plan, which established the Department's mission and core

responsibilities, and identified several strategic goals for

implementing that mission in an era of limited resources.

The R&D Plan is directed at the development of the technologies

needed to produce convenient, safe, and affordable modes of

transportation. Many of these technologies are also mentioned in the

DOT Strategic Plan, and as such the document is a first step towards a

science and technology strategy to support the transportation industry.

The R&D Plan also establishes sixteen longer-term R&D emphasis areas to

provide for the next generation of surface transportation systems.

The general requirement for the R&D Plan is set forth in ISTEA. It

describes the time periods which must be addressed, the issues to be

covered, and the level of detail to be included, at a minimum, in the

R&D Plan.

The Department has begun preparing the fourth edition of the R&D

Plan, which will be the last called for by ISTEA. As such, the fourth

edition could provide an important point of reference for decision

making related to R&D provisions of any subsequent legislation. The

Department, therefore, encourages public review and comment on the

third edition of the R&D Plan, and will consider those comments in

preparing the fourth edition.

The Department is particularly interested in receiving public

comment on the following issues:

The Department seeks comment on the strategic vision

presented in the second section of the third edition of the R&D Plan.

Does it ask the right questions about key trends and challenges for the

future? Does it extend far enough into the future? Does it establish a

reasonable set of expectations? Does it propose long-term R&D efforts

that provide a strategic response to long-term challenges?

The Department also seeks comment regarding potential

measures of performance that could be used to assess the quality of

surface transportation R&D programs, the extent to which they achieve

their objectives, and the extent to which they ultimately shape the

surface transportation system.

Issued this 18th day of December 1996, in Washington, D.C. by:

D.K. Sharma,

Administrator, Research and Special Programs Administration.

[FR Doc. 96-32701 Filed 12-23-96; 8:45 am]

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