National Standards for Traffic Control Devices; Revision of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices; Markings, Signals, and Traffic Control Systems for Railroad-Highway Grade Crossings

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

23 CFR Part 655

[FHWA Docket No. 96-47, FHWA 97-2295, Notice No. 1]

RIN 2125-AE11

National Standards for Traffic Control Devices; Revision of the

Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices; Markings, Signals, and

Traffic Control Systems for Railroad-Highway Grade Crossings

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed amendment to the Manual on Uniform Traffic

Control Devices (MUTCD), reopening and extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is reopening and extending the comment period for a

notice of proposed amendment to the MUTCD which was published January

6, 1997, at 62 FR 691. The original comment period was set to close on

August 30, 1997. This extension responds to concern expressed by the

National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (NCUTCD) that the

August 30 closing date does not provide sufficient time for appropriate

response to the proposed MUTCD change. The FHWA recognizes that other

commenters may be subject to similar time constraints and agrees that

the comment period should be reopened and extended. Therefore, the

closing date for comments is extended to December 22, 1997, in order to

provide the NCUTCD and other interested commenters additional time to

evaluate the proposed changes and to submit responses.

DATES: Submit comments on or before December 22, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Signed, written comments should refer to the docket number

that appears at the top of this document and must be submitted to the

Docket Clerk, U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW.,

Washington DC 20590-0001. All comments received will be available for

examination at the above address between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., e.t.,

Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Those desiring

notification of receipt of comments must include a self-addressed,

stamped envelope or postcard.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding the notice

of proposed amendment contact Ms. Linda Brown, Office of Highway

Safety, Room 3408, (202) 366-2192, or Mr. Raymond Cuprill, Office of

Chief Counsel, Room 4217, (202) 366-0834, Department of Transportation,

Federal Highway Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 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: As noted, the original comment period for

the January 6, 1997, notice of proposed amendment to the MUTCD closed

on August 30, 1997. The NCUTCD has expressed concern that this closing

date does not provide sufficient time to review the proposed change,

consolidate comments, and submit these comments to its member

organizations for approval. The NCUTCD only meets in January and June

of each year to vote as a full body on proposals and issues relating to

the MUTCD. Judging from the number of comments received so far to this

docket and considering the large amount of materials contained in this

docket, we believe there may be other interested persons who need

additional time to respond.

The MUTCD is available for inspection and copying as prescribed in

49 CFR part 7, appendix D. It may be purchased for $44.00 from the

Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, P.O. Box

371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954, Stock No. 650-001-00001-0.

Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315, 49 CFR 1.48.

Issued: October 8, 1997.

Gloria J. Jeff,

Acting Federal Highway Administrator.

[FR Doc. 97-27741 Filed 10-20-97; 8:45 am]

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