Solicitation of Proposals for Designation of Automated Vehicle Proving Grounds Pilot, 86069-86071 [2016-28619]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 229 / Tuesday, November 29, 2016 / Notices
Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration, Commercial
Enforcement and Investigations
Division/MC–ECC, West Building 6th
Floor, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC 20590. Telephone:
215–656–7251, email: james.dubose@
dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Background
The FMCSA maintains online
information and resources to assist
drivers, others in the motor carrier
industry and members of the general
public in filing safety complaints
regarding household goods (HHG)
carriers, hazardous material (HM)
carriers, property carriers, cargo tank
facilities, and passenger carriers. There
is also information pertaining to the
filing of consumer complaints,
particularly regarding HHG
transportation and ADA compliance.1
This online interface is known as the
National Consumer Complaint Database
(NCCDB). When effectively applied, the
NCCDB can contribute to safer motor
carrier operations on our nation’s
highways and improved consumer
protection.
The NCCDB grew out of a telephone
hotline known as the Safety Violation
Hotline Service. Congress mandated this
hotline in Section 4017 of the
‘‘Transportation Equity Act of the 21st
Century,’’ Public Law 105–178, 112 Stat.
107, June 9, 1998. The Motor Carrier
Safety Improvement Act of 1999, Public
Law 106–159, 113 Stat. 1748, December
9, 1999, created the Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Administration and
section 213 of the Act expanded the
Safety Violation Hotline Service to
include a 24-hour operation. On August
10, 2005, Congress enacted the Safe,
Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for
Users, (SAFETEA–LU), Public Law 109–
59, 119 Stat. 1144. Section 4214 of
SAFETEA–LU requires DOT to create a
system to record and log aggregate
complaint information regarding
violations of the Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Regulations.
The NCCDB fulfills the requirements
of these mandates. Complaints will be
accepted through the NCCDB in
connection with other statutory
mandates, including, but not limited to,
protection of drivers against harassment
and coercion under sections 32301(b)
1 The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
maintains reporting and other requirements for
over-the-road buses (OTRBs) under its Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations. (For a
complete listing of the DOT’s ADA regulations, see
49 CFR parts 37 and 38.)
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:48 Nov 28, 2016
Jkt 241001
and 32911, respectively, of the Moving
Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century
Act, Public Law 112–141, 126 Stat. 405.
The NCCDB will also accept complaints
from interested parties regarding third
party intermediaries (brokers and freight
forwarders) and their associated
financial responsibility instruments.
Title: National Consumer Complaint
Database.
OMB Control Number: 2126–00XX.
Type of Request: New information
collection request.
Respondents: Consumers, Drivers,
and Other Participants in the Motor
Carrier Industry.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
4,299.
Estimated Time per Response: 15
minutes.
Expiration Date: N/A. This is a new
ICR.
Frequency of Response: On occasion.
Estimated Total Annual Burden:
1,075.
ADA/Bus—Service
60.5 burden hours (242 responses × 15
minutes to complete complaint =
60.5)
Truck/Drivers
305 burden hours (1,219 responses ×
15 minutes to complete complaint =
305)
Consumers
709.5 burden hours (2,838 responses
× 15 minutes to complete complaint
= 709.5)
There is no complaint history for the
recently added coercion and harassment
complaint categories, or for complaints
regarding financial responsibility
instruments for brokers and/or freight
forwarders. This data will be collected
and included in future renewals for the
NCCDB.
Public Comments Invited: You are
asked to comment on any aspect of this
information collection, including: (1)
Whether the proposed collection is
necessary for the agency to perform its
mission; (2) the accuracy of the
estimated burden; (3) ways for the
FMCSA to enhance the quality,
usefulness, and clarity of the collected
information; and (4) ways that the
burden could be minimized without
reducing the quality of the collected
information. The agency will summarize
or include your comments in the request
for OMB’s clearance of this information
collection.
Issued under the authority of 49 CFR 1.87
on: November 22, 2016.
G. Kelly Regal,
Associate Administrator for Office of
Research and Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2016–28745 Filed 11–28–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P
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86069
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary
[Docket No. DOT–OST–2016–0233]
Solicitation of Proposals for
Designation of Automated Vehicle
Proving Grounds Pilot
Office of the Secretary, U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of intent to designate
proving grounds.
AGENCY:
It is the policy of the U.S.
Department of Transportation (‘‘DOT’’
or the ‘‘Department’’) to foster the safe
deployment of advanced automated
vehicle technologies to achieve national
goals while understanding the long-term
societal and ethical impacts that these
technological advancements may
impose. To further this understanding,
the DOT is requesting proposals from
applicants to form an initial network of
multiple proving grounds, focused on
the advancement of automated vehicle
technology. These entities will be
designated as a Community of Practice
to develop and share best practices
around the safe testing, demonstration
and deployment of automated vehicle
technology.
DATES: Proposals must be submitted by
11:59 p.m. EST on December 19, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Final proposals must not
exceed 15 pages in length, and must be
submitted electronically to:
automation@dot.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information concerning this
notice, please send inquiries to
automation@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Department is requesting applications to
be designated as USDOT Automated
Vehicle Proving Grounds. Please read
this notice in its entirety so that you
have all the information to determine
whether you would like to submit a
proposal.
DESCRIPTION: Benefits of Designation as
a USDOT Automated Vehicle Proving
Ground: Automated and connected
vehicle technologies are advancing, but
the pace of innovation can accelerate
through the safe testing and deployment
of vehicles on closed tracks, on
campuses and on limited roads. For this
purpose, the DOT is seeking
applications from eligible entities that
would like to be designated USDOT
Automated Vehicle Proving Grounds.
The Department anticipates that the
designation will encourage new levels
of public safety while contributing to a
strong innovative foundation able to
transform personal and commercial
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 229 / Tuesday, November 29, 2016 / Notices
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
mobility and open new doors to
disadvantaged people and communities.
The designated proving grounds will
collectively form a Community of
Practice around safe testing and
deployment. This group will openly
share best practices for the safe conduct
of testing and operations as they are
developed, enabling the participants
and the general public to learn at a
faster rate and accelerating the pace of
safe deployment. Designated Proving
Grounds must establish a Designated
Safety Officer responsible for their
safety management plan and commit to
sharing their approaches to safety and
non-proprietary/non-confidential safety
data generated though testing and
operation.
DESIGNATION DECISIONS: The Secretary of
Transportation will make all
designations under this notice. A
designation as a USDOT Automated
Vehicle Proving Ground is not an award
of Federal financial assistance.
ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION: The following
entities are eligible for designation as a
USDOT Automated Vehicle Proving
Ground. Individuals are not eligible for
designation under this notice. Facilities
will not be limited to a predetermined
size, number or variety of domains/
capabilities. The Department actively
encourages the inclusion of minority
institutions//businesses (e.g., small and
disadvantaged businesses). Eligible
entities include:
(1) Test tracks or testing facilities
(2) Race tracks
(3) Cities/urban cores
(4) Highway corridors
(5) Campuses (corporate or academic)
SELECTION CRITERIA: The Secretary of
Transportation will make all
designations. Selections will be based
on meeting the mandatory criteria and
the level of ability of the applicant to
meet one or more of the other criteria
identified below:
Mandatory Criteria
• A Designated Safety Officer
responsible for the entity’s safety
management plan and who will
participate in the Community of
Practice’s regular quarterly meeting of
Safety Officers.
• Commitment to sharing the entity’s
approaches to safety and safety data
generated through testing and operation.
Proposed Contributions
• The extent to which the applicant
meets the above eligibility and
administers an established automated
vehicle program, either independently
or through a partnership.
• The capability of the applicant to
provide leadership in making national
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:48 Nov 28, 2016
Jkt 241001
and regional contributions to the
solution of both long-range and
immediate mobility challenges through
the testing and deployment of
automated vehicle technology.
• The applicant’s proposed
contributions to the Community of
Practice. Examples include established
safety management plans, access to
testing data, engagement with
stakeholders or ability to generate
results that have broad applicability.
• As part of participation in the
Community of Practice, Designated
Proving Grounds applicant’s ability and
willingness to maintain a working
relationship with the Department’s
relevant research program offices. The
application should describe this
proposed relationship, including
aspects such as potential participation
in conferences, meetings, joint research
efforts, and submission of significant
activity reports to the DOT on a routine
basis.
Commitment to Safety
• The demonstrated capability to
control risks through the
implementation of robust safety
precautions through a published safety
management plan in all proving ground
testing and operations.
• Applicant demonstrates that
specific safety considerations have been
met over the course of operation,
including safety of proving ground
personnel, safety protocols when
making use of public roads, and
attention to safe design, deployment,
and operation of automated devices.
Research, Application and Data
Sharing
• The extent to which the State or
locality in which the applicant is
located can provide applicable solutions
for the broader region and surrounding
corridor for improved mobility through
the advancement of automated vehicle
technology.
• The demonstrated research and
extension resources available to the
applicant for carrying out activities and
programs as they relate to automated
vehicle advancements.
• The degree to which the applicant
can disseminate results of automated
vehicle research through a statewide or
region-wide education program to
support the national deployment of
automated vehicle technology.
• A commitment to open data and
sharing performance metrics and results
of objective tests.
Demonstrated Investments
• In facilitating automated vehicle
testing, applicants demonstrate
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Sfmt 4703
commitment through one or more of the
following:
(1) Capital improvements to the
proving grounds to advance automated
vehicles;
(2) Authorization for the proving
grounds, either through State legislation
or regulation, to address regulatory
challenges associated with higher levels
of automation;
(3) Testing or deployment underway
to determine automated vehicle
technology feasibility.
Readiness
(1) Designated facility is open for
testing, or the ability of the applicant to
demonstrate that the facility will be
open for testing, by January 1, 2018.
(2) The facility supports testing by
multiple users, or the data generated by
the proving ground is shared openly to
the public.
(3) Designated facility provides a
Designated Point of Contact.
(4) If making use of public roads, the
applicant demonstrates that it has
engaged with any affected communities
and can show that it is actively working
with those communities to address any
concerns.
Adherence to Laws, Regulations, and
Federal Policy
• The degree to which the application
addresses how the automated vehicle
testing facility will adhere to all state
and local laws and federal regulations.
• If making use of public roads, the
applicant demonstrates adherence to
those primary subject areas outlined in
the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration’s (NHTSA) policy for
automated vehicles (Federal Automated
Vehicles Policy: Accelerating the Next
Revolution in Roadway Safety) for any
testing or deployment of L3–L5 systems
on public roads.
REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS: DOT
will review all applications received by
the deadline. The designation review
and selection process consists of two
phases: Eligibility & Technical Review
and Senior Review. In the Eligibility &
Technical Review phase, DOT staff will
(1) ensure that the applicant is eligible
(see Eligibility Information section) and
(2) assess the applicant’s ability to meet
the mandatory criteria and one or more
of the other Selection Criteria
enumerated above. In the Senior Review
phase, which includes senior leadership
from DOT, specific applications may be
advanced to the Secretary for selection.
In making recommendations, the Senior
Review team may seek to ensure an
equitable geographic distribution and
the inclusion of minority institutions/
businesses (e.g., small and
E:\FR\FM\29NON1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 229 / Tuesday, November 29, 2016 / Notices
disadvantaged businesses). The
Secretary selects from applications
advanced by the Senior Review team for
designations.
DESIGNATION NOTICE: The Secretary will
announce designations by posting a list
of USDOT Automated Vehicle Proving
Grounds at www.transportation.gov/.
The Department anticipates that the
selection of the initial USDOT
Automated Vehicle Proving Grounds
will be completed during the first
quarter of calendar year 2017. The
Department may make additional
designations on an annual basis or as
deemed appropriate.
DESIGNATION AGENCY CONTACTS: For
further information concerning this
notice, please contact the Department
via email at automation@dot.gov, or call
Christopher Hillers at 202–366–5421.
OTHER INFORMATION: All information
submitted as part of or in support of any
application shall use publicly available
data or data that can be made public and
methodologies that are accepted by
industry practice and standards, to the
extent possible. If the application
includes information you consider to be
a trade secret or confidential
commercial or financial information, the
applicant should do the following: (1)
Note on the front cover that the
submission ‘‘Contains Confidential
Business Information (CBI)’’; (2) mark
each affected page ‘‘CBI’’; and (3)
highlight or otherwise denote the CBI
portions. DOT protects such information
from disclosure to the extent allowed
under applicable law. In the event DOT
receives a Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) request for the information, DOT
will follow the procedures described in
its FOIA regulations at 49 CFR 7.17.
Only information that is ultimately
determined to be confidential under that
procedure will be exempt from
disclosure under FOIA.
Issued in Washington, DC, on November
22, 2016.
Anthony R. Foxx,
Secretary of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 2016–28619 Filed 11–28–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service
Publication of the Tier 2 Tax Rates
Internal Revenue Service (IRS),
Treasury.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Publication of the tier 2 tax
rates for calendar year 2017 as required
SUMMARY:
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17:48 Nov 28, 2016
Jkt 241001
by section 3241(d) of the Internal
Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 3241). Tier 2
taxes on railroad employees, employers,
and employee representatives are one
source of funding for benefits under the
Railroad Retirement Act.
DATES: The tier 2 tax rates for calendar
year 2017 apply to compensation paid
in calendar year 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kathleen Edmondson,
CC:TEGE:EOEG:ET1, Internal Revenue
Service, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20224, Telephone
Number (202) 317–6798 (not a toll-free
number).
Tier 2 Tax Rates: The tier 2 tax rate
for 2017 under section 3201(b) on
employees is 4.9 percent of
compensation. The tier 2 tax rate for
2017 under section 3221(b) on
employers is 13.1 percent of
compensation. The tier 2 tax rate for
2017 under section 3211(b) on employee
representatives is 13.1 percent of
compensation.
Dated: November 22, 2016.
Victoria A. Judson,
Associate Chief Counsel (Tax Exempt and
Government Entities).
[FR Doc. 2016–28747 Filed 11–28–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Open Meeting of the Advisory
Committee on Risk-Sharing
Mechanisms
Departmental Offices, U.S.
Department of the Treasury.
ACTION: Notice of Open Meeting.
AGENCY:
This notice announces that
the Department of the Treasury’s
Advisory Committee on Risk-Sharing
Mechanisms (‘‘Committee’’) will
convene a meeting on Thursday,
December 15, 2016, in Room 4121, 1500
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington,
DC 20220, from 1:30–4:30 p.m. Eastern
Time. The meeting is open to the public,
and the site is accessible to individuals
with disabilities.
DATES: The meeting will be held on
Thursday, December 15, 2016, from
1:30–4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
ADDRESSES: The Advisory Committee on
Risk-Sharing Mechanisms meeting will
be held in Room 4121, Department of
the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20220.
The meeting will be open to the public,
and will be held in a secured facility.
Members of the public who plan to
attend the meeting must either:
SUMMARY:
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86071
1. Register online. Attendees may visit
https://www.cvent.com/d/dvqdsy?ct=
6128d144-9ad5-45f5-910cc7b44560aae0&RefID=TRIA+General+
Registration and fill out a secure online
registration form. A valid email address
will be required to complete online
registration.
Note: Online registration will close at 5:00
p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, December 8,
2016.
2. Contact the Federal Insurance
Office (FIO), at (202) 622–3220, by 5:00
p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday,
December 8, 2016, and provide
registration information.
Requests for reasonable
accommodations under Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act should be
directed to Mariam G. Harvey, Office of
Civil Rights and Diversity, Department
of the Treasury at (202) 622–0316, or
mariam.harvey@do.treas.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lindsey Baldwin, Senior Policy Analyst,
FIO, Room 1410, Department of the
Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue
NW., Washington, DC 20220, at (202)
622–3220 (this is not a toll-free
number). Persons who have difficulty
hearing or speaking may access this
number via TTY by calling the toll-free
Federal Relay Service at (800) 877–8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of
this meeting is provided in accordance
with the Federal Advisory Committee
Act, 5 U.S.C. App. II 10(a)(2), through
implementing regulations at 41 CFR
102–3.150.
Public Comment: Members of the
public wishing to comment on the
business of the Advisory Committee on
Risk-Sharing Mechanisms are invited to
submit written statements by any of the
following methods:
Electronic Statements
• Send electronic comments to
ACRSM@treasury.gov.
Paper Statements
• Send paper statements in triplicate
to the Advisory Committee on RiskSharing Mechanisms, Room 1410,
Department of the Treasury, 1500
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington,
DC 20220.
In general, the Department of the
Treasury will post all statements on its
Web site www.treasury.gov/initiatives/
fio without change, including any
business or personal information
provided such as names, addresses,
email addresses, or telephone numbers.
The Department of the Treasury will
also make such statements available for
public inspection and copying in the
Department of the Treasury’s Library,
E:\FR\FM\29NON1.SGM
29NON1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86069-86071]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28619]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary
[Docket No. DOT-OST-2016-0233]
Solicitation of Proposals for Designation of Automated Vehicle
Proving Grounds Pilot
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation
(DOT).
ACTION: Notice of intent to designate proving grounds.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: It is the policy of the U.S. Department of Transportation
(``DOT'' or the ``Department'') to foster the safe deployment of
advanced automated vehicle technologies to achieve national goals while
understanding the long-term societal and ethical impacts that these
technological advancements may impose. To further this understanding,
the DOT is requesting proposals from applicants to form an initial
network of multiple proving grounds, focused on the advancement of
automated vehicle technology. These entities will be designated as a
Community of Practice to develop and share best practices around the
safe testing, demonstration and deployment of automated vehicle
technology.
DATES: Proposals must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST on December 19,
2016.
ADDRESSES: Final proposals must not exceed 15 pages in length, and must
be submitted electronically to: automation@dot.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information concerning
this notice, please send inquiries to automation@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department is requesting applications to
be designated as USDOT Automated Vehicle Proving Grounds. Please read
this notice in its entirety so that you have all the information to
determine whether you would like to submit a proposal.
DESCRIPTION: Benefits of Designation as a USDOT Automated Vehicle
Proving Ground: Automated and connected vehicle technologies are
advancing, but the pace of innovation can accelerate through the safe
testing and deployment of vehicles on closed tracks, on campuses and on
limited roads. For this purpose, the DOT is seeking applications from
eligible entities that would like to be designated USDOT Automated
Vehicle Proving Grounds. The Department anticipates that the
designation will encourage new levels of public safety while
contributing to a strong innovative foundation able to transform
personal and commercial
[[Page 86070]]
mobility and open new doors to disadvantaged people and communities.
The designated proving grounds will collectively form a Community of
Practice around safe testing and deployment. This group will openly
share best practices for the safe conduct of testing and operations as
they are developed, enabling the participants and the general public to
learn at a faster rate and accelerating the pace of safe deployment.
Designated Proving Grounds must establish a Designated Safety Officer
responsible for their safety management plan and commit to sharing
their approaches to safety and non-proprietary/non-confidential safety
data generated though testing and operation.
DESIGNATION DECISIONS: The Secretary of Transportation will make all
designations under this notice. A designation as a USDOT Automated
Vehicle Proving Ground is not an award of Federal financial assistance.
ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION: The following entities are eligible for
designation as a USDOT Automated Vehicle Proving Ground. Individuals
are not eligible for designation under this notice. Facilities will not
be limited to a predetermined size, number or variety of domains/
capabilities. The Department actively encourages the inclusion of
minority institutions//businesses (e.g., small and disadvantaged
businesses). Eligible entities include:
(1) Test tracks or testing facilities
(2) Race tracks
(3) Cities/urban cores
(4) Highway corridors
(5) Campuses (corporate or academic)
SELECTION CRITERIA: The Secretary of Transportation will make all
designations. Selections will be based on meeting the mandatory
criteria and the level of ability of the applicant to meet one or more
of the other criteria identified below:
Mandatory Criteria
A Designated Safety Officer responsible for the entity's
safety management plan and who will participate in the Community of
Practice's regular quarterly meeting of Safety Officers.
Commitment to sharing the entity's approaches to safety
and safety data generated through testing and operation.
Proposed Contributions
The extent to which the applicant meets the above
eligibility and administers an established automated vehicle program,
either independently or through a partnership.
The capability of the applicant to provide leadership in
making national and regional contributions to the solution of both
long-range and immediate mobility challenges through the testing and
deployment of automated vehicle technology.
The applicant's proposed contributions to the Community of
Practice. Examples include established safety management plans, access
to testing data, engagement with stakeholders or ability to generate
results that have broad applicability.
As part of participation in the Community of Practice,
Designated Proving Grounds applicant's ability and willingness to
maintain a working relationship with the Department's relevant research
program offices. The application should describe this proposed
relationship, including aspects such as potential participation in
conferences, meetings, joint research efforts, and submission of
significant activity reports to the DOT on a routine basis.
Commitment to Safety
The demonstrated capability to control risks through the
implementation of robust safety precautions through a published safety
management plan in all proving ground testing and operations.
Applicant demonstrates that specific safety considerations
have been met over the course of operation, including safety of proving
ground personnel, safety protocols when making use of public roads, and
attention to safe design, deployment, and operation of automated
devices.
Research, Application and Data Sharing
The extent to which the State or locality in which the
applicant is located can provide applicable solutions for the broader
region and surrounding corridor for improved mobility through the
advancement of automated vehicle technology.
The demonstrated research and extension resources
available to the applicant for carrying out activities and programs as
they relate to automated vehicle advancements.
The degree to which the applicant can disseminate results
of automated vehicle research through a statewide or region-wide
education program to support the national deployment of automated
vehicle technology.
A commitment to open data and sharing performance metrics
and results of objective tests.
Demonstrated Investments
In facilitating automated vehicle testing, applicants
demonstrate commitment through one or more of the following:
(1) Capital improvements to the proving grounds to advance
automated vehicles;
(2) Authorization for the proving grounds, either through State
legislation or regulation, to address regulatory challenges associated
with higher levels of automation;
(3) Testing or deployment underway to determine automated vehicle
technology feasibility.
Readiness
(1) Designated facility is open for testing, or the ability of the
applicant to demonstrate that the facility will be open for testing, by
January 1, 2018.
(2) The facility supports testing by multiple users, or the data
generated by the proving ground is shared openly to the public.
(3) Designated facility provides a Designated Point of Contact.
(4) If making use of public roads, the applicant demonstrates that
it has engaged with any affected communities and can show that it is
actively working with those communities to address any concerns.
Adherence to Laws, Regulations, and Federal Policy
The degree to which the application addresses how the
automated vehicle testing facility will adhere to all state and local
laws and federal regulations.
If making use of public roads, the applicant demonstrates
adherence to those primary subject areas outlined in the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) policy for automated
vehicles (Federal Automated Vehicles Policy: Accelerating the Next
Revolution in Roadway Safety) for any testing or deployment of L3-L5
systems on public roads.
REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS: DOT will review all applications received
by the deadline. The designation review and selection process consists
of two phases: Eligibility & Technical Review and Senior Review. In the
Eligibility & Technical Review phase, DOT staff will (1) ensure that
the applicant is eligible (see Eligibility Information section) and (2)
assess the applicant's ability to meet the mandatory criteria and one
or more of the other Selection Criteria enumerated above. In the Senior
Review phase, which includes senior leadership from DOT, specific
applications may be advanced to the Secretary for selection. In making
recommendations, the Senior Review team may seek to ensure an equitable
geographic distribution and the inclusion of minority institutions/
businesses (e.g., small and
[[Page 86071]]
disadvantaged businesses). The Secretary selects from applications
advanced by the Senior Review team for designations.
DESIGNATION NOTICE: The Secretary will announce designations by posting
a list of USDOT Automated Vehicle Proving Grounds at
www.transportation.gov/. The Department anticipates that the selection
of the initial USDOT Automated Vehicle Proving Grounds will be
completed during the first quarter of calendar year 2017. The
Department may make additional designations on an annual basis or as
deemed appropriate.
DESIGNATION AGENCY CONTACTS: For further information concerning this
notice, please contact the Department via email at automation@dot.gov,
or call Christopher Hillers at 202-366-5421.
OTHER INFORMATION: All information submitted as part of or in support
of any application shall use publicly available data or data that can
be made public and methodologies that are accepted by industry practice
and standards, to the extent possible. If the application includes
information you consider to be a trade secret or confidential
commercial or financial information, the applicant should do the
following: (1) Note on the front cover that the submission ``Contains
Confidential Business Information (CBI)''; (2) mark each affected page
``CBI''; and (3) highlight or otherwise denote the CBI portions. DOT
protects such information from disclosure to the extent allowed under
applicable law. In the event DOT receives a Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) request for the information, DOT will follow the procedures
described in its FOIA regulations at 49 CFR 7.17. Only information that
is ultimately determined to be confidential under that procedure will
be exempt from disclosure under FOIA.
Issued in Washington, DC, on November 22, 2016.
Anthony R. Foxx,
Secretary of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 2016-28619 Filed 11-28-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P
