National Rail Plan, 17203-17204 [2010-7543]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 64 / Monday, April 5, 2010 / Notices
on April 27, 2010. Meeting: 9 a.m.–5
p.m. (0900–1700).
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
Dan Tel-Aviv Hotel, Hayarkon 99 St.,
Tel Aviv, IS 63432. Objective: Primary
objective is comment disposition from
Final Review and Comment (FRAC)
period of draft MASPS for EFVS
approach and landing. Secondary
objective is plenary review of
subsequent MASPS update for SVS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: (1)
RTCA Secretariat, 1828 L Street, NW.,
Suite 805, Washington, DC 20036;
telephone (202) 833–9339; fax (202)
833–9434; Web site https://www.rtca.org.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant
to section 10(a)(2) of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–
463, 5 U.S.C., Appendix 2), notice is
hereby given for a Joint RTCA Special
Committee 213: EUROCAE WG–79:
Enhanced Flight Vision Systems/
Synthetic Vision Systems (EFVS/SVS)
meeting. The agenda will include:
Tuesday, 27 April
• Sign-in at 8:30 a.m.
• 9 a.m.–5 p.m.—Plenary (including
breaks and lunch).
• Welcome, introductions, review
agenda, minutes approval, and
objectives.
• Plenary work group updates, action
item review.
• Plenary review/comment
disposition of draft MASPS for
EFVS approach and landing.
Wednesday, 28 April
• 9 a.m.–5 p.m.—Plenary (including
breaks and lunch).
• Continue: Plenary review/comment
disposition of draft MASPS for
EFVS.
• Begin: Plenary review of MASPS
update for SVS.
Thursday, 29 April
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
• 9 a.m.–3 p.m.—Plenary (including
breaks and lunch).
• Continue: Plenary review of MASPS
update for SVS.
• Review administrative items.
• Assign action items.
• Agree on next meeting date and
location.
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.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:35 Apr 02, 2010
Jkt 220001
Issued in Washington, DC, on March 30,
2010.
Meredith Gibbs,
RTCA Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 2010–7650 Filed 4–2–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA–2010–0020]
National Rail Plan
AGENCY: Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Request for comments and
establishment of public docket.
SUMMARY: This notice requests public
comment for input into the
development of the long-range National
Rail Plan (NRP) through an open docket.
In addition, the notice presents the
overall plan design, Federal Railroad
Administration’s (FRA) goals in
preparing the NRP, and issues that are
expected to be addressed. This is FRA’s
first NRP. Public comments are solicited
on the plan design, long-term goals of
the NRP, and policy issues and
questions noted below.
DATES: Public comments on this notice
are due no later than June 4, 2010.
However, since Congress has requested
the completed plan by September 15,
2010, an aggressive timeline and
schedule has been undertaken. For
comments to be considered during the
critical stages of plan development, they
should be received no later than May 3,
2010.
ADDRESSES: Public comments. To ensure
that comments are not entered into the
docket more than once, please submit
comments, identified by docket number
[FRA–2010–0020], by only one of the
following methods:
• Web site: The U.S. Government
electronic docket site is https://
www.regulations.gov. Go to this Web
site and follow the instructions for
submitting comments into docket
number [FRA–2010–0020];
• Mail: Mail comments to U.S.
Department of Transportation, 1200
New Jersey Avenue, SE., Docket
Operations, MS–30, Room W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590;
• Hand delivery or courier: Bring
comments to the U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE., Docket Operations, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
PO 00000
Frm 00084
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
17203
Instructions for submitting public
comments: The agency name (Federal
Railroad Administration) and the docket
number [FRA–2010–0020] for this
notice must be submitted with any
comments. If comments are submitted
by mail or by hand, please submit two
copies of the comments. For
confirmation that the FRA has received
the comments, a self-addressed stamped
postcard must be included. Note that all
comments received by any method will
be posted without change to https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided, and will
be available to Internet users. The
Department’s complete Privacy Act
Statement is available for review in the
Federal Register published April 11,
2000 (65 FR 19477), or by visiting
https://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Joel Palley, Office of Railroad Policy and
Development, at (202)493–6409,
Department of Transportation, Federal
Railroad Administration, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC
20590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: The Passenger Rail
Investment and Improvement Act of
2008 (PRIIA) requires that the FRA
develop a NRP. Prior to the
development of the NRP, PRIIA also
directed the FRA to develop a
Preliminary National Rail Plan. That
plan was submitted to Congress on
October 15, 2009. (That plan is available
at https://www.fra.dot.gov/Downloads/
RailPlanPrelim10-15.pdf.) The
Preliminary Plan laid the groundwork
for developing policies to improve the
U.S. transportation system and was
developed in consultation with state
and local government officials, the
railroad industry, and other
stakeholders. The Preliminary Plan set
forth FRA’s proposed approach to
developing the long-range NRP,
including goals and objectives for the
greater inclusion of rail in the national
transportation system. Although the
Preliminary Plan did not generally offer
specific recommendations, it did
identify a number of issues that FRA
believes should be considered in
formulating the NRP. In short, it is
designed to create a springboard for
further discussion.
Following on this theme, FRA invites
comment and discussion from parties
interested in the development of a
comprehensive NRP. Only through
participation of all levels of government,
carriers, shippers, commuter and
passenger groups, rail labor,
communities, and other stakeholders
can FRA develop a complete and
E:\FR\FM\05APN1.SGM
05APN1
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
17204
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 64 / Monday, April 5, 2010 / Notices
effective NRP. No specific format is
required.
Plan Design: Both freight and
passenger rail play a significant role in
meeting the transportation needs of the
U.S. economy. As the economy has
expanded, rail in conjunction with the
other modes and their infrastructure,
which includes highway, waterway,
pipeline, and air, work together to
provide a cohesive network to deliver
transportation services to customers.
The efficiencies of this network have
improved over the past decades and
transportation customers have sought to
lower transportation costs and those
costs associated with transportation.
The regulatory climate has also played
a significant role in fueling those
transportation improvements and
subsequent efficiencies.
In addition to its role in meeting the
needs of passenger and freight
customers, rail is also proving that it can
assist in meeting many of the nation’s
safety, energy, and environmental goals.
And along with improved and new
opportunities for intercity passenger
and high-speed rail service, rail can
help in reducing congestion in major
corridors that have witnessed
diminishing transportation capacity
from evermore use.
The NRP will be composed of three
principal components. These will
include: First, a review of the current
rail system and how it serves the nation.
This will also include a summary of the
rail system of each state based upon
state rail plans and from other sources.
This component will also look at
projected demographic and traffic
trends so an evaluation can be made
with regard to future demand and needs
for rail. This will lead into the second
component of the plan; consideration of
issues and policies that can ensure that
the nation’s rail system is truly
considered in surface transportation
discussions about moving people and
goods. The third component of the plan
will be a recommendation of programs,
policies, and investments that will be
required so the nation can be served
with a transportation system that is safe
and efficient.
In sum, the NRP must consider rail’s
increasing role in meeting the strategic
goals of the nation and must provide a
long-range outlook for programs and
investments that can improve corridors
and connections for passenger and
freight use. Those goals include:
Improving safety; improving fuel
economy; fostering livable communities;
increasing the competitiveness of the
United States; better understanding and
integrating the unique economics of the
rail industry; helping to bolster the
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:35 Apr 02, 2010
Jkt 220001
domestic passenger rail industry and
create jobs; developing passenger highspeed rail; improving freight rail.
Policy Questions and Comments: As
noted above in the plan design, the
second component of the NRP will
consider a broad array of issues and
address a number of policy questions. In
addition to comments on the plan
design, FRA is soliciting responses from
interested parties on these issues and
questions, which are noted below:
1. What strategies are appropriate for
funding freight transportation
investments? What strategies are
appropriate for funding passenger rail
and high-speed passenger rail
investments? How do we find
sustainable sources of funding among
Federal/State/Local/private sectors for
passenger operations? How do we better
assess the public benefits of railroad
infrastructure improvements?
2. When assessing opportunities and
challenges for implementing passenger
rail service on freight rail lines and
rights-of-way, what are the issues and
concerns of infrastructure access and
liability (owner vs. user)? In shared use
rights-of-way (freight and passenger
use), what are the best examples of
access agreements with freight
railroads? How can rail corridor
development for passenger service be
balanced with freight railroad service
requirements to assure that freight
service will not be impeded?
3. What are the issues that should be
considered with Governance, such as
roles and responsibilities, including
national leadership as well as those of
State, and local governments? What is
the proper framework for multi-State/
regional agreements when corridors
extend beyond the boundaries of a
single State?
4. What issues should be considered
in network design and network
development (corridors and
connectivity)? What role should rail
play? What modal issues arise
—cooperation vs. competition? What are
the best approaches to assess system
performance? Should national standards
be considered?
5. Identify areas where transportation
safety can continue to improve (include
technological and operational changes)?
What consideration should be given to
equipment improvement? What are the
issues in joint freight and passenger use
of track/corridors?
6. What issues should be addressed to
continue and advance the rail system to
effectively meet defense, emergency,
and security transportation
requirements?
7. What are the land use issues that
must be considered in making
PO 00000
Frm 00085
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
transportation infrastructure
investments? How can rail promote
livable communities?
8. What opportunities does rail
provide to improve energy use and the
environment (include both
technological and operational changes)?
9. What are the opportunities and
challenges for professional capacity
building—passenger and freight? What
are the challenges facing the nation in
developing a labor force to meet the
needs of a highly technical rail network
considering implementation of highspeed rail and technological advances
such as positive train control and
electronically controlled pneumatic
brakes?
10. When making infrastructure
investments, how can project delivery
be expedited and costs controlled?
Issued in Washington, DC, on March 26,
2010.
Karen J. Rae,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010–7543 Filed 4–2–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
March 29, 2010.
The Department of Treasury is
planning to submit the following public
information collection requirement(s) to
OMB for review and clearance under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13. Copies of the
submission(s) may be obtained by
calling the Treasury Bureau Clearance
Officer listed. Comments regarding this
information collection should be
addressed to the OMB reviewer listed
and to the Treasury Department
Clearance Officer, Department of the
Treasury, Room 11020, 1750
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20220.
DATES: Written comments should be
received on or before June 4, 2010 to be
assured of consideration.
HR Connect
OMB Number: 1505–XXXX.
Type of Review: New Collection.
Title: Voluntary Survey—Application
Website Content and Usability.
Description: Information will be
collected on a voluntary basis from new
Treasury hires for the purpose of
assessing the content and usability of
the application Web site.
Respondents: Individuals.
Estimated Total Reporting Burden: 50
hours.
E:\FR\FM\05APN1.SGM
05APN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 64 (Monday, April 5, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17203-17204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7543]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2010-0020]
National Rail Plan
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Request for comments and establishment of public docket.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice requests public comment for input into the
development of the long-range National Rail Plan (NRP) through an open
docket. In addition, the notice presents the overall plan design,
Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) goals in preparing the NRP, and
issues that are expected to be addressed. This is FRA's first NRP.
Public comments are solicited on the plan design, long-term goals of
the NRP, and policy issues and questions noted below.
DATES: Public comments on this notice are due no later than June 4,
2010. However, since Congress has requested the completed plan by
September 15, 2010, an aggressive timeline and schedule has been
undertaken. For comments to be considered during the critical stages of
plan development, they should be received no later than May 3, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Public comments. To ensure that comments are not entered
into the docket more than once, please submit comments, identified by
docket number [FRA-2010-0020], by only one of the following methods:
Web site: The U.S. Government electronic docket site is
https://www.regulations.gov. Go to this Web site and follow the
instructions for submitting comments into docket number [FRA-2010-
0020];
Mail: Mail comments to U.S. Department of Transportation,
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Docket Operations, MS-30, Room W12-140,
Washington, DC 20590;
Hand delivery or courier: Bring comments to the U.S.
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Docket
Operations, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC
20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
Instructions for submitting public comments: The agency name
(Federal Railroad Administration) and the docket number [FRA-2010-0020]
for this notice must be submitted with any comments. If comments are
submitted by mail or by hand, please submit two copies of the comments.
For confirmation that the FRA has received the comments, a self-
addressed stamped postcard must be included. Note that all comments
received by any method will be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, and
will be available to Internet users. The Department's complete Privacy
Act Statement is available for review in the Federal Register published
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477), or by visiting https://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Joel Palley, Office of Railroad
Policy and Development, at (202)493-6409, Department of Transportation,
Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of
2008 (PRIIA) requires that the FRA develop a NRP. Prior to the
development of the NRP, PRIIA also directed the FRA to develop a
Preliminary National Rail Plan. That plan was submitted to Congress on
October 15, 2009. (That plan is available at https://www.fra.dot.gov/Downloads/RailPlanPrelim10-15.pdf.) The Preliminary Plan laid the
groundwork for developing policies to improve the U.S. transportation
system and was developed in consultation with state and local
government officials, the railroad industry, and other stakeholders.
The Preliminary Plan set forth FRA's proposed approach to developing
the long-range NRP, including goals and objectives for the greater
inclusion of rail in the national transportation system. Although the
Preliminary Plan did not generally offer specific recommendations, it
did identify a number of issues that FRA believes should be considered
in formulating the NRP. In short, it is designed to create a
springboard for further discussion.
Following on this theme, FRA invites comment and discussion from
parties interested in the development of a comprehensive NRP. Only
through participation of all levels of government, carriers, shippers,
commuter and passenger groups, rail labor, communities, and other
stakeholders can FRA develop a complete and
[[Page 17204]]
effective NRP. No specific format is required.
Plan Design: Both freight and passenger rail play a significant
role in meeting the transportation needs of the U.S. economy. As the
economy has expanded, rail in conjunction with the other modes and
their infrastructure, which includes highway, waterway, pipeline, and
air, work together to provide a cohesive network to deliver
transportation services to customers. The efficiencies of this network
have improved over the past decades and transportation customers have
sought to lower transportation costs and those costs associated with
transportation. The regulatory climate has also played a significant
role in fueling those transportation improvements and subsequent
efficiencies.
In addition to its role in meeting the needs of passenger and
freight customers, rail is also proving that it can assist in meeting
many of the nation's safety, energy, and environmental goals. And along
with improved and new opportunities for intercity passenger and high-
speed rail service, rail can help in reducing congestion in major
corridors that have witnessed diminishing transportation capacity from
evermore use.
The NRP will be composed of three principal components. These will
include: First, a review of the current rail system and how it serves
the nation. This will also include a summary of the rail system of each
state based upon state rail plans and from other sources. This
component will also look at projected demographic and traffic trends so
an evaluation can be made with regard to future demand and needs for
rail. This will lead into the second component of the plan;
consideration of issues and policies that can ensure that the nation's
rail system is truly considered in surface transportation discussions
about moving people and goods. The third component of the plan will be
a recommendation of programs, policies, and investments that will be
required so the nation can be served with a transportation system that
is safe and efficient.
In sum, the NRP must consider rail's increasing role in meeting the
strategic goals of the nation and must provide a long-range outlook for
programs and investments that can improve corridors and connections for
passenger and freight use. Those goals include: Improving safety;
improving fuel economy; fostering livable communities; increasing the
competitiveness of the United States; better understanding and
integrating the unique economics of the rail industry; helping to
bolster the domestic passenger rail industry and create jobs;
developing passenger high-speed rail; improving freight rail.
Policy Questions and Comments: As noted above in the plan design,
the second component of the NRP will consider a broad array of issues
and address a number of policy questions. In addition to comments on
the plan design, FRA is soliciting responses from interested parties on
these issues and questions, which are noted below:
1. What strategies are appropriate for funding freight
transportation investments? What strategies are appropriate for funding
passenger rail and high-speed passenger rail investments? How do we
find sustainable sources of funding among Federal/State/Local/private
sectors for passenger operations? How do we better assess the public
benefits of railroad infrastructure improvements?
2. When assessing opportunities and challenges for implementing
passenger rail service on freight rail lines and rights-of-way, what
are the issues and concerns of infrastructure access and liability
(owner vs. user)? In shared use rights-of-way (freight and passenger
use), what are the best examples of access agreements with freight
railroads? How can rail corridor development for passenger service be
balanced with freight railroad service requirements to assure that
freight service will not be impeded?
3. What are the issues that should be considered with Governance,
such as roles and responsibilities, including national leadership as
well as those of State, and local governments? What is the proper
framework for multi-State/regional agreements when corridors extend
beyond the boundaries of a single State?
4. What issues should be considered in network design and network
development (corridors and connectivity)? What role should rail play?
What modal issues arise --cooperation vs. competition? What are the
best approaches to assess system performance? Should national standards
be considered?
5. Identify areas where transportation safety can continue to
improve (include technological and operational changes)? What
consideration should be given to equipment improvement? What are the
issues in joint freight and passenger use of track/corridors?
6. What issues should be addressed to continue and advance the rail
system to effectively meet defense, emergency, and security
transportation requirements?
7. What are the land use issues that must be considered in making
transportation infrastructure investments? How can rail promote livable
communities?
8. What opportunities does rail provide to improve energy use and
the environment (include both technological and operational changes)?
9. What are the opportunities and challenges for professional
capacity building--passenger and freight? What are the challenges
facing the nation in developing a labor force to meet the needs of a
highly technical rail network considering implementation of high-speed
rail and technological advances such as positive train control and
electronically controlled pneumatic brakes?
10. When making infrastructure investments, how can project
delivery be expedited and costs controlled?
Issued in Washington, DC, on March 26, 2010.
Karen J. Rae,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-7543 Filed 4-2-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
