Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU); Value Pricing Pilot Program Participation, 40578 [E6-11275]

Download as PDF 40578 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 136 / Monday, July 17, 2006 / Notices • Proposed Changes to the Test Procedures. • Status of the ED–73B/DO–181C Requirements Comparison data base. • Status of the coordination with WG–49. • Review Status of Action Items. • Closing Plenary Session (Other Business, Discussion of Agenda for Next Meeting, Date, Place and Time of Future Meeting, Adjourn). Attendance is open to the interested public but limited to space availability. With the approval of the chairmen, members of the public may present oral statements at the meeting. Persons wishing to present statements or obtain information should contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. Members of the public may present a written statement to the committee at any time. Issued in Washington, DC, on July 7, 2006. Francisco Estrada C., RTCA Advisory Committee. [FR Doc. 06–6243 Filed 7–14–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–M DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA–LU); Value Pricing Pilot Program Participation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT. SUMMARY: This notice revises a previous notice, published in the Federal Register on January 6, 2006 (71 FR 970), which invited State and local governments and other public authorities to apply to participate in the Value Pricing Pilot (VPP) program and presented guidelines for program applications. That notice described the statutory basis for the VPP program and updated a previous notice published in the Federal Register on May 7, 2001 (66 FR 23077), by providing revised procedures, process timelines, and guidance for program participation. The purpose of today’s notice is to announce a delay in the consideration of applications for fiscal year (FY) 2007 funds and to temporarily suspend the deadlines to apply for such funds. The purpose of this delay is to allow the FHWA to revise the VPP program guidance to solicit certain types of projects that further the goals of the Secretary of Transportation’s new National Strategy to Reduce Congestion rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES AGENCY: VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:41 Jul 14, 2006 Jkt 208001 on America’s Transportation Network, announced on May 16, 2006.1 DATES: This notice temporarily suspends the due dates for Expressions of Interest and formal grant applications for FY 2007 VPP program funds that were published in the January 6, 2006 notice. A subsequent notice will be issued providing new deadlines along with revised guidelines for applications. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this notice, contact Mr. Wayne Berman, Office of Operations, (202) 366–4069, or via e-mail at wayne.berman@fhwa.dot.gov; for specific information about the Value Pricing Pilot Program, contact Mr. Patrick DeCorla-Souza, Office of Operations, (202) 366–4076, or via email at patrick.decorlasouza@fhwa.dot.gov; and for legal questions, Mr. Michael Harkins, Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366–4928; Michael.harkins@dot.gov. The FHWA is located at 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, 20590, and office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Electronic Access An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded from the Federal Register’s home page at: https:// www.archives.gov and the Government Printing Office’s database at: https:// www.access.gpo.gov/nara. Background Section 1012(b) of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) (Pub. L. 102–240; 105 Stat. 1914), as amended by section 1216(a) of the Transportation Equity Act (TEA–21) (Pub. L. 105–178; 112 Stat. 107), and section 1604(a) of Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA–LU) (Pub. L. 109–59; 119 Stat. 1144), authorizes the Secretary of Transportation (the Secretary) to create a Value Pricing Pilot (VPP) program. Value pricing encompasses a variety of strategies to manage congestion on highways, including tolling of highway facilities, as well as other strategies that do not involve tolls. A maximum of $12 before the National Retail Federation’s annual conference May 16, 2006, in Washington DC. U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta unveiled a new plan to reduce congestion plaguing America’s roads, rail and airports. The National Strategy to Reduce Congestion on America’s Transportation Network includes a number of initiatives designed to reduce transportation congestion. The transcript of these remarks is available at the following URL: https://www.dot.gov/ affairs/minetasp051606.htm. PO 00000 1 Speaking Frm 00110 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 million is authorized for each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2009 to be made available to carry out the VPP program requirements. Of these amounts, the statute requires the Secretary to set-aside $3 million for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009 for value pricing pilot projects that do not involve highway tolls. The Federal share payable under the program is 80 percent of the cost of the project. The Secretary is required to report to Congress every two years on the effects of all value pricing pilot programs. In the FHWA’s January 6, 2006, Federal Register notice, the FHWA established deadlines for expressions of interest and project applications for VPP project funding requests. Temporary Suspension of Application Deadlines Today’s notice delays consideration of applications for FY 2007 VPP program funds and temporarily suspends the deadlines to apply for such funds. Under the January 6, 2006, notice formal applications for FY 2007 funds were to be due by October 1, 2006, and Expressions of Interest were to be required two months prior, by August 1, 2006, to be assured of the maximum amount of constructive assistance from the FHWA in preparing formal applications. The purpose of this delay is to allow the FHWA to revise the VPP program guidance to solicit certain types of projects that further the goals of the Secretary of Transportation’s new National Strategy to Reduce Congestion on America’s Transportation Network, announced on May 16, 2006. This national strategy contains a number of elements that involve pricing, and thus a reconsideration of the types of projects that are being solicited for VPP program participation is warranted to ensure consistency with the national strategy. Value Pricing Pilot program participants, and potential participants, may continue to submit Expressions of Interest for VPP projects that do not involve requests for VPP funding and for which only tolling authority is requested. Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; sec. 1012(b), Public Law 102–240, 105 Stat. 1914, as amended by sec. 1216(a), Public Law 105– 178, 112 Stat. 107 and Public Law 109–59; 117 Stat. 1144; 49 CFR 1.48. Issued on: July 12, 2006. Frederick G. Wright, Jr., Federal Highway Executive Director. [FR Doc. E6–11275 Filed 7–14–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–22–P E:\FR\FM\17JYN1.SGM 17JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 136 (Monday, July 17, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 40578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-11275]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: 
A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU); Value Pricing Pilot Program 
Participation

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
SUMMARY: This notice revises a previous notice, published in the 
Federal Register on January 6, 2006 (71 FR 970), which invited State 
and local governments and other public authorities to apply to 
participate in the Value Pricing Pilot (VPP) program and presented 
guidelines for program applications. That notice described the 
statutory basis for the VPP program and updated a previous notice 
published in the Federal Register on May 7, 2001 (66 FR 23077), by 
providing revised procedures, process timelines, and guidance for 
program participation. The purpose of today's notice is to announce a 
delay in the consideration of applications for fiscal year (FY) 2007 
funds and to temporarily suspend the deadlines to apply for such funds. 
The purpose of this delay is to allow the FHWA to revise the VPP 
program guidance to solicit certain types of projects that further the 
goals of the Secretary of Transportation's new National Strategy to 
Reduce Congestion on America's Transportation Network, announced on May 
16, 2006.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Speaking before the National Retail Federation's annual 
conference May 16, 2006, in Washington DC. U.S. Transportation 
Secretary Norman Mineta unveiled a new plan to reduce congestion 
plaguing America's roads, rail and airports. The National Strategy 
to Reduce Congestion on America's Transportation Network includes a 
number of initiatives designed to reduce transportation congestion. 
The transcript of these remarks is available at the following URL: 
https://www.dot.gov/affairs/minetasp051606.htm.

DATES: This notice temporarily suspends the due dates for Expressions 
of Interest and formal grant applications for FY 2007 VPP program funds 
that were published in the January 6, 2006 notice. A subsequent notice 
will be issued providing new deadlines along with revised guidelines 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
for applications.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this notice, 
contact Mr. Wayne Berman, Office of Operations, (202) 366-4069, or via 
e-mail at wayne.berman@fhwa.dot.gov; for specific information about the 
Value Pricing Pilot Program, contact Mr. Patrick DeCorla-Souza, Office 
of Operations, (202) 366-4076, or via e-mail at patrick.decorla-
souza@fhwa.dot.gov; and for legal questions, Mr. Michael Harkins, 
Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-4928; Michael.harkins@dot.gov. 
The FHWA is located at 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, 20590, 
and office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., e.t., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded from the 
Federal Register's home page at: https://www.archives.gov and the 
Government Printing Office's database at: https://www.access.gpo.gov/
nara.

Background

    Section 1012(b) of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency 
Act (ISTEA) (Pub. L. 102-240; 105 Stat. 1914), as amended by section 
1216(a) of the Transportation Equity Act (TEA-21) (Pub. L. 105-178; 112 
Stat. 107), and section 1604(a) of Safe, Accountable, Flexible, 
Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) 
(Pub. L. 109-59; 119 Stat. 1144), authorizes the Secretary of 
Transportation (the Secretary) to create a Value Pricing Pilot (VPP) 
program. Value pricing encompasses a variety of strategies to manage 
congestion on highways, including tolling of highway facilities, as 
well as other strategies that do not involve tolls. A maximum of $12 
million is authorized for each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2009 to 
be made available to carry out the VPP program requirements. Of these 
amounts, the statute requires the Secretary to set-aside $3 million for 
each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009 for value pricing pilot projects 
that do not involve highway tolls.
    The Federal share payable under the program is 80 percent of the 
cost of the project. The Secretary is required to report to Congress 
every two years on the effects of all value pricing pilot programs. In 
the FHWA's January 6, 2006, Federal Register notice, the FHWA 
established deadlines for expressions of interest and project 
applications for VPP project funding requests.

Temporary Suspension of Application Deadlines

    Today's notice delays consideration of applications for FY 2007 VPP 
program funds and temporarily suspends the deadlines to apply for such 
funds. Under the January 6, 2006, notice formal applications for FY 
2007 funds were to be due by October 1, 2006, and Expressions of 
Interest were to be required two months prior, by August 1, 2006, to be 
assured of the maximum amount of constructive assistance from the FHWA 
in preparing formal applications.
    The purpose of this delay is to allow the FHWA to revise the VPP 
program guidance to solicit certain types of projects that further the 
goals of the Secretary of Transportation's new National Strategy to 
Reduce Congestion on America's Transportation Network, announced on May 
16, 2006. This national strategy contains a number of elements that 
involve pricing, and thus a reconsideration of the types of projects 
that are being solicited for VPP program participation is warranted to 
ensure consistency with the national strategy. Value Pricing Pilot 
program participants, and potential participants, may continue to 
submit Expressions of Interest for VPP projects that do not involve 
requests for VPP funding and for which only tolling authority is 
requested.

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; sec. 1012(b), Public Law 102-240, 105 
Stat. 1914, as amended by sec. 1216(a), Public Law 105-178, 112 
Stat. 107 and Public Law 109-59; 117 Stat. 1144; 49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued on: July 12, 2006.
Frederick G. Wright, Jr.,
Federal Highway Executive Director.
 [FR Doc. E6-11275 Filed 7-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P

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