Maglev Study Advisory Committee; Notice of Third Meeting

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

Maglev Study Advisory Committee; Notice of Third Meeting

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of

Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of third meeting of the Maglev Study Advisory Committee.

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SUMMARY: As required by Section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory

Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C. App. 2 (1988) and 41 C.F.R. Part 101-6,

section 101-6, 1015(a), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) gives

notice of the third meeting of the Maglev Study Advisory Committee

(``MSAC''). The purpose of the meeting is to advise DOT/FRA on the

Congressionally mandated study of the near-term applications of maglev

technology in the United States.

DATES: The third meeting of the MSAC is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 4:30

p.m. EST on Monday and Tuesday, March 24 and 25, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The third meeting of the MSAC will be held in the 9th floor

Conference Room at FRA Headquarters, 1120 Vermont Avenue NW,

Washington, D.C. The meeting is open to the public on a first-come,

first-served basis and is accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Those with special needs should inform Mr. Mongini 5 days in advance of

the meeting so appropriate facilities can be provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Arrigo Mongini, Deputy Associate

Administrator for Railroad Development, FRA RDV-2, 400 Seventh Street

S.W., Washington D.C. 20590 (mailing address only) or by telephone at

(202) 632-3286.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The third meeting of the Maglev Study

Advisory Committee (MSAC) will be held on March 24 and 25 from 8:30

a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)

headquarters, 1120 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC, in the 9th

floor conference room. The meeting is open to the public.

The MSAC was created by the National Highway System Designation Act

to advise the Secretary of Transportation in the preparation of a

report to be submitted by the Secretary to the Congress evaluating the

near term applications of magnetic levitation transportation technology

in the U.S. ``with particular emphasis on identifying projects

warranting immediate application of such technology.'' The Act further

specifies that the study also ``evaluate the use of innovative finance

techniques for the construction and operation of such projects.'' The

eight committee members collectively have experience in magnetic

levitation transportation, design and construction, public and private

finance, and infrastructure policy disciplines. The conference report

on the National Highway System Designation Act specifies that ``[t]he

Committee should identify and analyze specific magnetic leviation

projects, such as a connector from New York City to its airports, the

transportation project under development between Baltimore, Maryland

and Washington, DC , and technology transfer efforts underway in

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, so that Congress can better assess how near-

term magnetic levitation technology could complement existing modes of

transportation * * *.'' The Secretary has assigned responsibility for

preparing the report to the Federal Railroad Administrator, working

closely with the MSAC. The Secretary's report to the Congress will

discuss the extent to which the above and other potential magnetic

levitation projects warrant immediate application, taking into account

such factors as ability to be financed, benefits vs costs, extent of

public commitment and support, and national significance.

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The period from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 1:30 p.m., with

appropriate breaks, will be set aside on Tuesday, March 25 to hear

presentations from sponsors or proponents of maglev projects such as

those mentioned in the conference report. Any such project, in order to

be considered, should be based on full scale high-speed maglev

technology capable of near term application. Sponsors or proponents of

projects representing low speed applications, or projects where there

is no evidence of public sector interest, should not apply for

permission to give a presentation. Sponsors or proponents of projects

representing tests of technologies that are not yet fully developed may

contact Mr. Harding to discuss whether a presentation would be

appropriate.

Persons interested in giving a presentation should contact John

Harding, of the Federal Railroad Administration (phone: 202 632-3387/

fax: 202 632-3854) in order to be given a time on the scheduled

program. Presentations will not be accepted on a ``walk in'' basis,

although, if there is sufficient time, there may be opportunity for

comments from the public other than in the scheduled presentations.

Presentations should contain information describing the project,

public and private sponsorship, any studies of revenues, costs, and

benefits, proposed means of financing, and national significance.

Facilities for overhead and 35mm slide projection will be provided.

Twelve hard copies of the presentation and accompanying literature

should be provided by the presenter for use of the MSAC and staff.

Issued in Washington, D.C. on February 14, 1997.

Jolene M. Molitoris,

Administrator.

[FR Doc. 97-4613 Filed 2-24-97; 8:45 am]

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