Transportation/Air Quality Public Information Initiative: ``It All Adds Up To Cleaner Air'' FY 99 Demonstration Communities; Request for Letters of Interest

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6180-4]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

Federal Transit Administration

Transportation/Air Quality Public Information Initiative: ``It

All Adds Up To Cleaner Air'' FY 99 Demonstration Communities; Request

for Letters of Interest

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency; Federal Highway Administration

and Federal Transit Administration.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Over the past year, the Department of Transportation's (DOT)

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit

Administration (FTA) and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA)

Office of Mobile Sources (OMS) have begun a collaborative public

education program to be implemented at the community level.

This effort is designed to inform the public about the connection

between transportation, air pollution and public health, and the

ability of individuals to make a difference once they are informed

about the environmental consequences of their daily travel choices .

Through this Document, the Department of Transportation's Federal

Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration, and the

Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Mobile Sources are

soliciting interest from organizations and communities around the

country who would benefit from participation as Demonstration

Communities in ``It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air''--a transportation/air

quality public information initiative.

DATES: Deadline for Letters of Interest--November 25, 1998.

ADDRESSES: This document can also be accessed at no cost by contacting:

DOT/Federal Highway Administration Web Page: ``www.fhwa.dot.gov/

environment/pubout'' EPA's Office of Mobile Sources Web Page:

``www.epa.gov/oms'' click on ``What's New?''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kathy Daniel, Project Manager, US DOT Federal Highway Administration,

400 7th Street SW (HEP-40), Washington, DC 20590, (Phone) 202/366-6276

(Fax) 202/366-3409, ``[email protected]'';

Patrice Thornton, Project Manager, EPA Office of Mobile Sources, 2000

Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, (Phone) 734/214-4329 (Fax) 734/

214-4906, ``[email protected]'';

Abbe Marner, Federal Transit Administration, 400 7th Street SW (TPL-

12), Washington, DC 20590, (Phone) 202/366-4317 (Fax) 202/493-2478,

``[email protected]''.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Affected Entities: Communities and/or organizations interested in

participating as Demonstration Communities in a public education

project addressing transportation choices and their impact on air

quality.

Title: Transportation/Air Quality Public Information Initiative:

``It All Adds Up To Cleaner Air''--FY 99 Demonstration Communities--

Request For Letters of Interest.

Abstract: Over the past year, the Department of Transportation's

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit

Administration (FTA) and the Environmental Protection Agency's Office

of Mobile Sources (OMS) have begun collaborating on a public education

program to be implemented at the community level, which informs the

public about the connection between transportation, air pollution,

public health, and the ability of individuals to make a difference once

they are informed about the environmental consequences of their daily

travel choices. This goal is being accomplished by (1) providing

national support for community-based public education efforts on the

impacts of transportation choices on air quality, traffic congestion ,

and public health, (2) encouraging and facilitating the creation of

national and local coalitions committed to raising awareness,

understanding, acceptance, and action related to transportation/air

quality issues, and (3) encouraging informed and responsible choices

for individual actions through public information. The theme of the

initiative is ``It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air.''

The federal partners--FHWA, FTA and OMS--are currently pilot-

testing program design as well as products produced for three diverse

communities--Dover, Delaware; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and San Francisco,

California--in support of the long term effort. Pilot communities were

selected to provide an opportunity to learn from the experience of

areas with diversity in size, existing transportation infrastructure,

air quality, and degrees of public understanding of transportation, air

quality and the impact of their individual choices. Coalitions of

organizations with vested interest in transportation/air quality issues

in each of the three pilot communities are currently involved in public

education campaigns on transportation choices and their impact on air

quality. The messages being tested in the pilot phase of the initiative

focus on combining errands, car care, and using alternative modes of

transportation. These initial efforts are scheduled to continue through

October, 1998. Because the approach and results differ from community

to community, important and relevant lessons are being learned from

each site. Comprehensive evaluation of and in collaboration with the

pilot sites are being undertaken by the federal partners in

collaboration with the pilot sites in the fall of this year. The

program will then be expanded to include as many as twelve (12)

Demonstration Communities in 1999.

Purpose of Request for Letters of Interest

Through this Notice, FHWA, FTA and OMS are soliciting interest from

organizations and communities around the country who believe they would

benefit from participation as a

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Demonstration Community in ``It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air''--the

transportation/air quality public information initiative. Demonstration

Communities will receive national support to further their public

education efforts on transportation and air quality. National support

to be provided includes market research; consistent national messages;

limited seed money ($25,000 per site); a comprehensive resource ``tool

kit'' including transportation and air quality facts and figures;

promotional materials; high quality TV, radio, and print advertisements

and other public education tools; ``how to'' information; and technical

assistance to create or expand and support coalitions committed to

improving quality of life through minimizing traffic congestion and

reducing air pollution. This Notice provides information which will

allow organizations and communities to determine their interest in

participating as a Demonstration Community in the 1999 ``It All Adds Up

to Cleaner Air'' initiative, and to begin preparing information needed

to apply for the program later this year.

The purpose of requesting a Letter from interested communities and

organizations is to help the federal agencies prepare an efficient

evaluation/selection process. Submitting a Letter of Interest will not

commit an organization/community to proceed with an application. Those

not submitting a Letter may still apply at the appropriate time.

Developing a Letter of Interest

Letters of Interest should be 3-5 pages. The federal partners are

interested in brief answers to the following questions:

--Is the community committed to raising public awareness of

transportation, air quality, public health and the impact of individual

actions?

--What is the extent of the air quality and congestion problem in the

interested community?

--Is there an existing coalition or collaborative established to

address transportation and air quality issues?

--If so, who are the partners in this coalition?

--If not, is the community committed to developing and maintaining such

a coalition?

--Is the community currently involved in a public education program on

transportation/air quality issues?

--Could activities begun or expanded continue beyond the period when

federal support is being provided to the community?

Expansion of the ``It All Adds Up To Cleaner Air'' Initiative

Expansion of this initiative will take place in two phases. Phase

One, begun with this Notice, will involve submission of a ``Letter of

Interest'' from organizations who might be interested in participating

as a 1999 Demonstration Community. Phase Two will begin with a formal

solicitation expected to be issued by the federal partners in November,

1998. The solicitation will outline all requirements and will be widely

distributed through the Federal Register, Agency Websites and other

electronic means, existing organizational networks and publications,

conferences, etc. Organizations interested in participating will then

have 60 days to submit the requested information.

Expectations for the 1999 Demonstration Communities

Using the materials developed and refined through the pilot sites,

Demonstration Communities will further our knowledge of what works and

what doesn't. Dialogue with the public will address (1) the connection

between transportation choices, traffic congestion, and air quality,

(2) alternate modes of transportation, and (3) efforts to reach the

long-term objectives of environmentally beneficial transportation

choices in the community, informed life-work decisions, and increased

investment in transportation and air quality. Additional and innovative

materials will be developed which can be replicated and provided for

use in other community-based efforts nationwide. Through evaluation, we

will continue to learn lessons about organizations and perspectives

which must be involved and what resources are required to ensure long-

term success in addressing transportation choices and their impact on

air quality. Demonstration Communities will be expected to work closely

with the federal partners as they track outreach activities, successes

and challenges, market research, etc.

Partnerships

The cornerstone of the overall initiative is the forging of long-

term partnerships which will integrate the need to address air quality

and transportation choices into community planning and education. These

partnerships will ensure that public education and investment in

transportation and air quality will continue beyond the initial federal

support in Demonstration Communities. Partners could include employers,

non-profit organizations, health providers, public interest and

business groups, youth, and other levels of government.

Proposed Time Line

Request for Letters of Interest Published--September 1998

Letters of Interest Received--October 1998

Solicitation Issued--November 1998

Requested Information Due--January 1999

Evaluation/Selection Completed--March 1999

Award of Funds--April 1999

Eligible Organizations

Letters of Interest will be accepted from any community/public

organization with interest in this initiative. However, when

Demonstration Communities are selected through review of formal

information received in Phase 2, priority will be given to communities/

public organizations which can clearly demonstrate a perceived air

quality and traffic congestion problem, involvement of a wide range of

organizations, a level of public understanding of transportation

choices as solutions to congestion and air quality problems, and the

commitment to conduct public education linking transportation, air

quality, public health and individual choices. Please note that only

Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), state departments of

transportation, state, local, and regional air management agencies,

councils of government and public transit agencies will be eligible to

serve as funding recipients for the seed money offered to selected

communities. Lead organizations are strongly encouraged to create

partnerships with other organizations actively involved in congestion

mitigation and air quality improvement.

Potential Information To Be Requested Through Formal Solicitation

FHWA, FTA and OMS are currently developing the selection criteria

against which proposals will be evaluated. However, it is likely that

the information requested will include how the community will

demonstrate:

--A perceived air quality and congestion problem

--Level of public understanding of transportation choices as solutions

to congestion and air quality problems

--Goals of improved air quality and reduced congestion through

transportation choices

--Effectiveness of collaborative activities and partnerships with other

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stakeholders needed to effectively develop or implement the project

--Demonstrated ability to reach target audiences through media,

outreach and collaborative efforts

--Ability to integrate these efforts with existing programs/campaigns

--Potential for continuing the effort beyond federal support

Additional Items of Interest

--The limited amount of ``seed money'' is clearly insufficient to

accomplish the goals of the overall initiative. In the final selection

process, priority will be given to those who indicate a clear ability

to undertake the initiative and commit resources beyond those provided

through the federal partners. Participation as a Demonstration

Community will clearly require a commitment of human as well as

financial resources.

--Potential Demonstration Communities are encouraged to consider

integrating this initiative into other ongoing public education

efforts. Other potential funding sources could include the Congestion

Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ), the

Transportation and Community and Systems Preservation Pilot Program

(TCSP) under the Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century, the

annual Mobile Source Outreach Assistance Competition (limited to

designated state and local air management agencies) and other funds

obtained to conduct transportation/air quality public education

activities.

Submitting ``Letters of Interest''

Letters of Interest'' (5 copies) should be sent to: Susan Bullard,

Director of Outreach and Communication, US EPA Office of Mobile

Sources, 401 M Street SW (MC 6401), Washington, DC 20460, (phone) 202/

260-2614, (fax) 202/260-6011, email: ``[email protected]''.

Dated: September 23, 1998.

Margo T. Oge,

Director, Office of Mobile Sources, Environmental Protection Agency.

Dated: October 16, 1998.

Charlotte M. Adams,

Associate Administrator for Planning, Federal Transit Administration.

Dated: October 15, 1998.

James M. Shrouds,

Chief, Environmental Analysis Division, Office of Environment and

Planning, Federal Highway Administration.

[FR Doc. 98-28617 Filed 10-23-98; 8:45 am]

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