Potential Research and Development Areas of Interest for the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Infrastructure (ARPA-I); Request for Information, 38590-38592 [2023-12621]

Download as PDF ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 38590 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 13, 2023 / Notices • Pilkington North America, Inc., Grant of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance; 78 FR 22942 (April 17, 2003) • Fuji Heavy Industries USA, Inc., Grant of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance; 78 FR 59088 (September 25, 2013) • Toyota Motor Corporation., Grant of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance; 68 FR 10307 (March 4, 2003) • Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., Grant of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance; 80 FR 72482 (August 27, 2015) 1 • Custom Glass Solutions Upper Sandusky Corp., Grant of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance; 80 FR 3737 (January 23, 2015) • Supreme Corporation, Grant of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance; 81 FR 72850 (October 21, 2016) • Ford Motor Company, Grant of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance; 78 FR 32531 (May 30, 2013) • Ford Motor Company, Grant of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance; 80 FR 11259 (March 2, 2015) • General Motors, LLC, Grant of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance; 79 FR 23402 (September 25, 2015) 2 AGC concludes by stating its belief that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety and its petition to be exempted from providing notification of the noncompliance, as required by 49 U.S.C. 30118, and a remedy for the noncompliance, as required by 49 U.S.C. 30120, should be granted. NHTSA notes that the statutory provisions (49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 30120(h)) that permit manufacturers to file petitions for a determination of inconsequentiality allow NHTSA to exempt manufacturers only from the duties found in sections 30118 and 30120, respectively, to notify owners, purchasers, and dealers of a defect or noncompliance and to remedy the defect or noncompliance. Therefore, any decision on this petition only applies to the subject equipment that AGC no longer controlled at the time it determined that the noncompliance existed. However, any decision on this 1 AGC included the incorrect date of the cited Federal Register notice. 80 FR 72482 was published on November 19, 2015. 2 AGC included the incorrect date of the cited Federal Register notice. 79 FR 23402 was published on April 28, 2014. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:45 Jun 12, 2023 Jkt 259001 petition does not relieve equipment distributors and dealers of the prohibitions on the sale, offer for sale, or introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of the noncompliant equipment under their control after AGC notified them that the subject noncompliance existed. (Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120: delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.95 and 501.8) Otto G. Matheke, III, Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance. [FR Doc. 2023–12566 Filed 6–12–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–59–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION [Docket No. DOT–OST–2023–0092] Potential Research and Development Areas of Interest for the Advanced Research Projects Agency— Infrastructure (ARPA–I); Request for Information Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice; request for information (RFI). AGENCY: The Advanced Research Projects Agency—Infrastructure (ARPA– I) is a newly-designated agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) that was authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) November 15, 2021 (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law). ARPA–I was established by Congress ‘‘to support the development of science and technology solutions that overcomes long-term challenges and advances the state of the art for United States transportation infrastructure.’’ ARPA–I will have a single overarching goal and focus: to fund external innovative advanced research and development (R&D) programs that develop new technologies, systems, and capabilities to improve transportation infrastructure in the United States. The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to obtain input from interested parties on potential areas for future innovative advanced research and development programs to be funded and managed by ARPA–I, subject to the availability of appropriations. DATES: Written submissions must be received within 45 days of the publication of this RFI. ADDRESSES: Please submit any written comments to Docket Number DOT– OST–2023–0092 electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://regulations.gov. Go to https:// regulations.gov and select ‘‘Department SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00113 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 of Transportation (DOT)’’ from the agency menu to submit or view public comments. Note that, except as provided below, all submissions received, including any personal information provided, will be posted without change and will be available to the public on https:// www.regulations.gov. You may review DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477) or at https://www.transportation.gov/privacy. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this RFI, please email ARPA-I@dot.gov. You may also contact Mr. Timothy A. Klein, Director, Technology Policy and Outreach, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (202–366–0075) or by email at timothy.klein@dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Advanced Research Projects Agency— Infrastructure (ARPA–I) is a newlydesignated agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) that was established by Congress ‘‘to support the development of science and technology solutions that overcomes long-term challenges and advances the state of the art for United States transportation infrastructure.’’ (Pub. L. 117–58, Section 25012, November 15, 2021; 49 U.S.C. 119). ARPA–I is modeled after the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) within the U.S. Department of Defense, and ARPA–E (Energy) within the U.S. Department of Energy. It will offer a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve our nation’s transportation infrastructure, both physical and digital, and will support DOT’s strategic goals of Safety, Economic Strength and Global Competitiveness, Equity, Climate and Sustainability, and Transformation. ARPA–I will focus on developing and implementing technologies, rather than developing policies and processes or providing regulatory support. An ARPA–I funded technology should have a clear pathway to commercialization and widespread cross-modal deployment within 5–10 years, to have a substantial and transformative beneficial impact on DOT’s priorities. A typical ARPA–I program might run for multiple years, have a significant budget, and include multiple activelymanaged R&D projects within that single program. ARPA–I will augment and complement existing R&D activities within DOT’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST–R) and DOT’s Operating Administrations, and will not supplant or duplicate those efforts. Those efforts E:\FR\FM\13JNN1.SGM 13JNN1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 13, 2023 / Notices currently include the U.S. DOT Research, Development and Technology (RD&T) Strategic Plan as well as the activities of the University Transportation Centers (UTCs). ARPA–I will fund innovative teams of researchers and developers that might include academic institutions, innovators, industry, Federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), infrastructure owners and operators (IOOs), and others. These teams will be funded to develop commercializable technologies that solve persistent problems in infrastructure design, development, construction, and deployment. The aims of ARPA–I include ‘‘lowering the long-term costs of infrastructure development, including costs of planning, construction, and maintenance; reducing the lifecycle impacts of transportation infrastructure on the environment, including through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; contributing significantly to improving the safe, secure, and efficient movement of goods and people; promoting the resilience of infrastructure from physical and cyber threats; and ensuring that the United States is a global leader in developing and deploying advanced transportation infrastructure technologies and materials.’’ (IIJA, 2021) ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Specific Questions Responses to this RFI are intended to inform DOT on areas of focus for future innovative R&D funding programs to be undertaken by ARPA–I. DOT is providing the following specific questions to prompt feedback and comments. DOT encourages public comment on any of these questions, and also seeks any other information commenters believe is relevant. DOT is requesting information from all interested entities and stakeholders, including innovators and technology developers, researchers and universities, transportation system operators, transportation-focused groups, organizations and associations, and the public. DOT is interested in receiving succinct and relevant responses to the following six questions: Safety Improving the safety of our transportation system users is of critical importance to achieving the objectives of the DOT’s National Roadway Safety Strategy (https:// www.transportation.gov/NRSS) and DOT’s vision of zero fatalities and serious injuries across all modes of transportation. There are many current VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:45 Jun 12, 2023 Jkt 259001 38591 and existing DOT safety R&D efforts that span the full spectrum from roadway and intersection design, active and passive vehicle safety systems, policy and regulatory support, human factors and human behavior research, to vulnerable road user safety improvements (such as the U.S. DOT Intersection Safety Challenge), and more. Safety spans all transportation modes and is an all-pervasive overarching goal at DOT. A number of safety research programs are currently underway at DOT, including the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Improving Highway Safety for All Users Program Request for Information, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Safety Research Program, and many others. In this current RFI, DOT is seeking information on additional, complementary, and supplemental program areas that ARPA–I can address in developing innovative new infrastructure technologies that enhance Safety across our transportation system. Question 1: Are there new and emerging areas of innovation, including external early-stage research and development, that ARPA–I should contemplate funding as a part of its Safety area of concentration, noting the agency’s high-risk, high-reward focus? If yes, what are these areas, and why should DOT consider funding them? Digital Infrastructure Advanced Construction Materials and Methods Freight and Logistics Optimization The development of advanced infrastructure construction materials and methods, including for roads, highways, bridges, airports, ports, railways, and pipelines, has long been a priority for DOT. There are considerable efforts ongoing including at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and FHWA in the development of low embodied carbon materials, new construction materials and new construction methods for infrastructure. For example, these might include 3D concrete printing of large structures such as bridges, culverts, and roadways, and related advanced construction methods. Question 2: Are there new and emerging areas of innovation, including external early-stage research and development, that ARPA–I should contemplate funding as a part of its Advanced Construction Materials and Methods area of concentration, noting the agency’s high-risk, high-reward focus? If yes, what are these areas, and why should DOT consider funding them? PO 00000 Frm 00114 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Advances in digital infrastructure and digitalization abound. These include (but are not limited to) new technologies for mapping, sensing, connectivity and communications, networking, and computation. Transportation infrastructure is one of the largest sectors of our economy that has only begun to participate in the ‘digital revolution’ of information technology. The potential advantages of digitalization are pervasive, from the development of advanced centralized traffic management systems to advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), GPS (or GNSS) applications, machine vision and artificial intelligence. There is a considerable body of work being conducted across DOT in digital infrastructure, including at FHWA, FAA, the Intelligent Transportation System Joint Program Office (ITS JPO), and the Highly Automated Systems Safety Center of Excellence (HASS COE) within OST–R. Question 3: Are there new and emerging areas of innovation, including external early-stage research and development, that ARPA–I should contemplate funding as a part of its Digital Infrastructure area of concentration, noting the agency’s highrisk, high-reward focus? If yes, what are these areas, and why should DOT consider funding them? The seamless movement of freight across transportation modes is an essential requirement for our economic health and well-being. The COVID–19 pandemic exposed the vulnerability of our economy to disruptions in freight and logistics operations, as part of the larger breakdown in supply chains and their continuity. Increasing the resilience of freight and goods movement across our nation is essential to ensuring the uninterrupted flow of food, fuel, commodities, and consumer and industrial products from source to destination. DOT conducts research across all transportation modes in the area of freight and logistics and has recently instituted the Office of Multimodal Freight Infrastructure and Policy within the Office of the Secretary (OST), as established by the IIJA, Section 21101 (49 U.S.C. 118). Question 4: Are there new and emerging areas of innovation, including external early-stage research and development, that ARPA–I should contemplate funding as a part of its Freight and Logistics Optimization area of concentration, noting the agency’s high-risk, high-reward focus? If yes, E:\FR\FM\13JNN1.SGM 13JNN1 38592 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 13, 2023 / Notices Issued in Washington, DC, on June 6, 2023. Robert C. Hampshire, Acting Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology. what are these areas, and why should DOT consider funding them? Climate and Resilience Our transportation infrastructure is increasingly susceptible to damage from climate-related events, from drought to floods to sea level rise. Increasing the resilience of our infrastructure and mitigating negative effects on our transportation system across all modes is an imperative for DOT. Climate and resilience research is being conducted across all transportation modes at DOT, including in the newly reestablished DOT Climate Change Center, and includes the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation, the reduction of embodied carbon in infrastructure materials, and increasing physical and cyber resilience across the transportation system. Question 5: Are there new and emerging areas of innovation, including external early-stage research and development, that ARPA–I should contemplate funding as a part of its Climate and Resilience area of concentration, noting the agency’s highrisk, high-reward focus? If yes, what are these areas, and why should DOT consider funding them? Other Areas in Transportation Infrastructure DOT currently conducts a considerable amount of R&D work, both internally and externally, in many areas pertinent to transportation infrastructure. Question 6: Are there other new and emerging areas of innovation associated with transportation infrastructure, including external early-stage research and development, that ARPA–I should contemplate funding, noting the agency’s high-risk, high-reward focus? If yes, what are these other areas, and why should DOT consider funding them? ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Confidential Business Information Do not submit information disclosure of which is restricted by statute, such as trade secrets and commercial or financial information (hereinafter referred to as Confidential Business Information ‘‘CBI’’) to Regulations.gov. Comments submitted through Regulations.gov cannot be claimed as CBI. Comments received through the website will waive any CBI claims for the information submitted. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:45 Jun 12, 2023 Jkt 259001 [FR Doc. 2023–12621 Filed 6–12–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Office of the Comptroller of the Currency FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Treasury; Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board); and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). ACTION: Joint notice and request for comment. AGENCY: In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the OCC, the Board, and the FDIC (the agencies) may not conduct or sponsor, and a respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. On February 21, 2023, the agencies, under the auspices of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC), requested public comment for 60 days on a proposal to revise and extend the Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income (Call Reports) (FFIEC 031, FFIEC 041, and FFIEC 051), and the Report of Assets and Liabilities of U.S. Branches and Agencies of Foreign Banks (FFIEC 002), all of which are currently approved collections of information. These proposed revisions to the Call Reports and the FFIEC 002 result from the 2022 statutorily mandated review of the Call Reports, Call Report process revisions, and reporting of certain Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and similar securitizations. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 13, 2023. ADDRESSES: Interested parties are invited to submit written comments to any or all of the agencies. All comments will be shared among the agencies. OCC: You may submit comments, by any of the following methods: • Email: prainfo@occ.treas.gov. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00115 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 • Mail: Chief Counsel’s Office, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Attention: 1557–0081, 400 7th Street SW, Suite 3E–218, Washington, DC 20219. • Hand Delivery/Courier: 400 7th Street SW, Suite 3E–218, Washington, DC 20219. Instructions: You must include ‘‘OCC’’ as the agency name and ‘‘1557– 0081’’ in your comment. In general, the OCC will publish comments on www.reginfo.gov without change, including any business or personal information provided, such as name and address information, email addresses, or phone numbers. Comments received, including attachments and other supporting materials, are part of the public record and subject to public disclosure. Do not include any information in your comment or supporting materials that you consider confidential or inappropriate for public disclosure. You may review comments and other related materials that pertain to this information collection beginning on the date of publication of the second notice for this collection by the following method: • Viewing Comments Electronically: Go to www.reginfo.gov. Hover over the ‘‘Information Collection Review’’ tab and click on ‘‘Information Collection Review.’’ Underneath the ‘‘Currently under Review’’ section heading, from the drop-down menu select ‘‘Department of the Treasury’’ and then click ‘‘submit.’’ This information collection can be located by searching by OMB control number ‘‘1557–0081.’’ Upon finding the appropriate information collection, click on the related ‘‘ICR Reference Number.’’ On the next screen, select ‘‘View Supporting Statement and Other Documents’’ and then click on the link to any comment listed at the bottom of the screen. • For assistance in navigating www.reginfo.gov, please contact the Regulatory Information Service Center at (202) 482–7340. Board: You may submit comments, which should refer to ‘‘Call Report and FFIEC 002 Revisions,’’ by any of the following methods: • Agency Website: https:// www.federalreserve.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments at: https://www.federalreserve.gov/ generalinfo/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm. • Email: regs.comments@ federalreserve.gov. Include ‘‘Call Report and FFIEC 002 Revisions’’ in the subject line of the message. • Fax: (202) 395–6974. • Mail: Ann E. Misback, Secretary, Board of Governors of the Federal E:\FR\FM\13JNN1.SGM 13JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 13, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38590-38592]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12621]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Docket No. DOT-OST-2023-0092]


Potential Research and Development Areas of Interest for the 
Advanced Research Projects Agency--Infrastructure (ARPA-I); Request for 
Information

AGENCY: Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice; request for information (RFI).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Advanced Research Projects Agency--Infrastructure (ARPA-I) 
is a newly-designated agency within the U.S. Department of 
Transportation (DOT) that was authorized by the Infrastructure 
Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) November 15, 2021 (also known as 
the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law). ARPA-I was established by Congress 
``to support the development of science and technology solutions that 
overcomes long-term challenges and advances the state of the art for 
United States transportation infrastructure.'' ARPA-I will have a 
single overarching goal and focus: to fund external innovative advanced 
research and development (R&D) programs that develop new technologies, 
systems, and capabilities to improve transportation infrastructure in 
the United States. The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is 
to obtain input from interested parties on potential areas for future 
innovative advanced research and development programs to be funded and 
managed by ARPA-I, subject to the availability of appropriations.

DATES: Written submissions must be received within 45 days of the 
publication of this RFI.

ADDRESSES: Please submit any written comments to Docket Number DOT-OST-
2023-0092 electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at 
https://regulations.gov. Go to https://regulations.gov and select 
``Department of Transportation (DOT)'' from the agency menu to submit 
or view public comments. Note that, except as provided below, all 
submissions received, including any personal information provided, will 
be posted without change and will be available to the public on https://www.regulations.gov. You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act 
Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 
19477) or at https://www.transportation.gov/privacy.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this RFI, please 
email [email protected]. You may also contact Mr. Timothy A. Klein, 
Director, Technology Policy and Outreach, Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Research and Technology (202-366-0075) or by email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Advanced Research Projects Agency--
Infrastructure (ARPA-I) is a newly-designated agency within the U.S. 
Department of Transportation (DOT) that was established by Congress 
``to support the development of science and technology solutions that 
overcomes long-term challenges and advances the state of the art for 
United States transportation infrastructure.'' (Pub. L. 117-58, Section 
25012, November 15, 2021; 49 U.S.C. 119). ARPA-I is modeled after the 
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) within the U.S. 
Department of Defense, and ARPA-E (Energy) within the U.S. Department 
of Energy. It will offer a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve 
our nation's transportation infrastructure, both physical and digital, 
and will support DOT's strategic goals of Safety, Economic Strength and 
Global Competitiveness, Equity, Climate and Sustainability, and 
Transformation. ARPA-I will focus on developing and implementing 
technologies, rather than developing policies and processes or 
providing regulatory support. An ARPA-I funded technology should have a 
clear pathway to commercialization and widespread cross-modal 
deployment within 5-10 years, to have a substantial and transformative 
beneficial impact on DOT's priorities. A typical ARPA-I program might 
run for multiple years, have a significant budget, and include multiple 
actively-managed R&D projects within that single program.
    ARPA-I will augment and complement existing R&D activities within 
DOT's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology 
(OST-R) and DOT's Operating Administrations, and will not supplant or 
duplicate those efforts. Those efforts

[[Page 38591]]

currently include the U.S. DOT Research, Development and Technology 
(RD&T) Strategic Plan as well as the activities of the University 
Transportation Centers (UTCs). ARPA-I will fund innovative teams of 
researchers and developers that might include academic institutions, 
innovators, industry, Federally funded research and development centers 
(FFRDCs), infrastructure owners and operators (IOOs), and others. These 
teams will be funded to develop commercializable technologies that 
solve persistent problems in infrastructure design, development, 
construction, and deployment.
    The aims of ARPA-I include ``lowering the long-term costs of 
infrastructure development, including costs of planning, construction, 
and maintenance; reducing the lifecycle impacts of transportation 
infrastructure on the environment, including through the reduction of 
greenhouse gas emissions; contributing significantly to improving the 
safe, secure, and efficient movement of goods and people; promoting the 
resilience of infrastructure from physical and cyber threats; and 
ensuring that the United States is a global leader in developing and 
deploying advanced transportation infrastructure technologies and 
materials.'' (IIJA, 2021)

Specific Questions

    Responses to this RFI are intended to inform DOT on areas of focus 
for future innovative R&D funding programs to be undertaken by ARPA-I.
    DOT is providing the following specific questions to prompt 
feedback and comments. DOT encourages public comment on any of these 
questions, and also seeks any other information commenters believe is 
relevant.
    DOT is requesting information from all interested entities and 
stakeholders, including innovators and technology developers, 
researchers and universities, transportation system operators, 
transportation-focused groups, organizations and associations, and the 
public.
    DOT is interested in receiving succinct and relevant responses to 
the following six questions:

Safety

    Improving the safety of our transportation system users is of 
critical importance to achieving the objectives of the DOT's National 
Roadway Safety Strategy (https://www.transportation.gov/NRSS) and DOT's 
vision of zero fatalities and serious injuries across all modes of 
transportation. There are many current and existing DOT safety R&D 
efforts that span the full spectrum from roadway and intersection 
design, active and passive vehicle safety systems, policy and 
regulatory support, human factors and human behavior research, to 
vulnerable road user safety improvements (such as the U.S. DOT 
Intersection Safety Challenge), and more. Safety spans all 
transportation modes and is an all-pervasive overarching goal at DOT. A 
number of safety research programs are currently underway at DOT, 
including the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Improving Highway 
Safety for All Users Program Request for Information, the National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Safety Research 
Program, and many others. In this current RFI, DOT is seeking 
information on additional, complementary, and supplemental program 
areas that ARPA-I can address in developing innovative new 
infrastructure technologies that enhance Safety across our 
transportation system.
    Question 1: Are there new and emerging areas of innovation, 
including external early-stage research and development, that ARPA-I 
should contemplate funding as a part of its Safety area of 
concentration, noting the agency's high-risk, high-reward focus? If 
yes, what are these areas, and why should DOT consider funding them?

Advanced Construction Materials and Methods

    The development of advanced infrastructure construction materials 
and methods, including for roads, highways, bridges, airports, ports, 
railways, and pipelines, has long been a priority for DOT. There are 
considerable efforts ongoing including at the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA) and FHWA in the development of low embodied carbon 
materials, new construction materials and new construction methods for 
infrastructure. For example, these might include 3D concrete printing 
of large structures such as bridges, culverts, and roadways, and 
related advanced construction methods.
    Question 2: Are there new and emerging areas of innovation, 
including external early-stage research and development, that ARPA-I 
should contemplate funding as a part of its Advanced Construction 
Materials and Methods area of concentration, noting the agency's high-
risk, high-reward focus? If yes, what are these areas, and why should 
DOT consider funding them?

Digital Infrastructure

    Advances in digital infrastructure and digitalization abound. These 
include (but are not limited to) new technologies for mapping, sensing, 
connectivity and communications, networking, and computation. 
Transportation infrastructure is one of the largest sectors of our 
economy that has only begun to participate in the `digital revolution' 
of information technology. The potential advantages of digitalization 
are pervasive, from the development of advanced centralized traffic 
management systems to advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), GPS 
(or GNSS) applications, machine vision and artificial intelligence. 
There is a considerable body of work being conducted across DOT in 
digital infrastructure, including at FHWA, FAA, the Intelligent 
Transportation System Joint Program Office (ITS JPO), and the Highly 
Automated Systems Safety Center of Excellence (HASS COE) within OST-R.
    Question 3: Are there new and emerging areas of innovation, 
including external early-stage research and development, that ARPA-I 
should contemplate funding as a part of its Digital Infrastructure area 
of concentration, noting the agency's high-risk, high-reward focus? If 
yes, what are these areas, and why should DOT consider funding them?

Freight and Logistics Optimization

    The seamless movement of freight across transportation modes is an 
essential requirement for our economic health and well-being. The 
COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerability of our economy to 
disruptions in freight and logistics operations, as part of the larger 
breakdown in supply chains and their continuity. Increasing the 
resilience of freight and goods movement across our nation is essential 
to ensuring the uninterrupted flow of food, fuel, commodities, and 
consumer and industrial products from source to destination. DOT 
conducts research across all transportation modes in the area of 
freight and logistics and has recently instituted the Office of 
Multimodal Freight Infrastructure and Policy within the Office of the 
Secretary (OST), as established by the IIJA, Section 21101 (49 U.S.C. 
118).
    Question 4: Are there new and emerging areas of innovation, 
including external early-stage research and development, that ARPA-I 
should contemplate funding as a part of its Freight and Logistics 
Optimization area of concentration, noting the agency's high-risk, 
high-reward focus? If yes,

[[Page 38592]]

what are these areas, and why should DOT consider funding them?

Climate and Resilience

    Our transportation infrastructure is increasingly susceptible to 
damage from climate-related events, from drought to floods to sea level 
rise. Increasing the resilience of our infrastructure and mitigating 
negative effects on our transportation system across all modes is an 
imperative for DOT. Climate and resilience research is being conducted 
across all transportation modes at DOT, including in the newly 
reestablished DOT Climate Change Center, and includes the reduction of 
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation, the reduction of 
embodied carbon in infrastructure materials, and increasing physical 
and cyber resilience across the transportation system.
    Question 5: Are there new and emerging areas of innovation, 
including external early-stage research and development, that ARPA-I 
should contemplate funding as a part of its Climate and Resilience area 
of concentration, noting the agency's high-risk, high-reward focus? If 
yes, what are these areas, and why should DOT consider funding them?

Other Areas in Transportation Infrastructure

    DOT currently conducts a considerable amount of R&D work, both 
internally and externally, in many areas pertinent to transportation 
infrastructure.
    Question 6: Are there other new and emerging areas of innovation 
associated with transportation infrastructure, including external 
early-stage research and development, that ARPA-I should contemplate 
funding, noting the agency's high-risk, high-reward focus? If yes, what 
are these other areas, and why should DOT consider funding them?

Confidential Business Information

    Do not submit information disclosure of which is restricted by 
statute, such as trade secrets and commercial or financial information 
(hereinafter referred to as Confidential Business Information ``CBI'') 
to Regulations.gov. Comments submitted through Regulations.gov cannot 
be claimed as CBI. Comments received through the website will waive any 
CBI claims for the information submitted.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 6, 2023.
Robert C. Hampshire,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology.
[FR Doc. 2023-12621 Filed 6-12-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P


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