Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation Discretionary Program Metrics, 20290-20295 [2024-05934]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
20290
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 56 / Thursday, March 21, 2024 / Notices
Washington, DC 20549, on official
business days between the hours of 10
a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the filing also
will be available for inspection and
copying at the principal office of the
Exchange. Do not include personal
identifiable information in submissions;
you should submit only information
that you wish to make available
publicly. We may redact in part or
withhold entirely from publication
submitted material that is obscene or
subject to copyright protection. All
submissions should refer to file number
SR–NASDAQ–2024–008 and should be
submitted on or before April 11, 2024.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.21
Sherry R. Haywood,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024–05945 Filed 3–20–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. FAA–2023–2372]
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Requests for Comments;
Clearance of Renewed Approval of
Information Collection: Application for
Certificate of Waiver or Authorization
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA
invites public comments about our
intention to request Office of
Management and Budget (OMB)
approval to renew an information
collection. This collection affects
persons who have a need to deviate
from certain regulations that govern use
of airspace within the United States.
The request also describes the burden
associated with authorizations to make
parachute jumps and operate unmanned
aircraft (including moored balloons,
kites, unmanned rockets, and
unmanned free balloons) and small
unmanned aircraft systems.
DATES: Written comments should be
submitted by April 22, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent
within 30 days of publication of this
notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/
PRAMain. Find this particular
information collection by selecting
‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
SUMMARY:
21 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:53 Mar 20, 2024
Jkt 262001
for Public Comments’’ or by using the
search function.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Raymond Plessinger by email at:
raymond.plessinger@faa.gov; phone:
(717) 774–8271.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Comments Invited: You are
asked to comment on any aspect of this
information collection, including (a)
Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for FAA’s
performance; (b) the accuracy of the
estimated burden; (c) ways for FAA to
enhance the quality, utility and clarity
of the information collection; and (d)
ways that the burden could be
minimized without reducing the quality
of the collected information.
OMB Control Number: 2120–0027.
Title: Application for Certificate of
Waiver or Authorization.
Form Numbers: FAA form 7711–2.
Type of Review: Renewal.
Background: The Federal Register
Notice with a 60-day comment period
soliciting comments on the following
collection of information was published
on December 6, 2023 (88 FR 84871). The
information collected by FAA Form
7711–2, Application for Certificate of
Waiver or Authorization, is reviewed
and analyzed by the FAA to determine
the type and extent of the intended
deviation from prescribed regulations. A
certificate of waiver or authorization to
deviate is generally issued to the
applicant (individuals and businesses) if
the proposed operation does not create
a hazard to persons, property, or other
aircraft, and includes the operation of
unmanned aircraft. Applications for
certificates of waiver to the provisions
of parts 91 and 101 are made by using
FAA Form 7711–2. Application for
authorization to make parachute jumps
(other than emergency or military
operations) under part 105, section
105.15 (airshows and meets) also uses
FAA Form 7711–2. Application for
other types of parachute jumping
activities are submitted in various ways;
e.g., in writing, in person, by telephone,
etc.
Persons authorized to deviate from
provisions of part 101 are required to
give notice of actual activities. Persons
operating in accordance with the
provisions of part 101 are also required
to give notice of actual activities. In both
instances, the notice of information
required is the same. Therefore, the
burden associated with applications for
certificates of waiver or authorization
and the burden associated with notices
of actual aircraft activities are identified
and included in this request for
clearance.
PO 00000
Frm 00130
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Regarding operation of small
unmanned aircraft systems under part
107, to obtain a certificate of waiver, an
applicant will have to submit a request
containing a complete description of the
proposed operation and a justification,
including supporting data and
documentation as necessary that
establishes that the proposed operation
can safely be conducted under the terms
of a certificate of waiver. The FAA
expects that the amount of data and
analysis required as part of the
application will be proportional to the
specific relief that is requested.
Respondents: 26,495, including
approximately 5,500 annual
applications for waivers from certain
sections of Part 107.
Frequency: On occasion.
Estimated Average Burden per
Response: 45 minutes for non-part 107
waivers; 45.7 hours for part 107 waivers.
Estimated Total Annual Burden:
19,871 hours (not-part 107) + 251,520
(part 107) = 271,391 hours.
Issued in Washington, DC, on March 15,
2024.
D.C. Morris,
Aviation Safety Analyst, Flight Standards
Service, General Aviation and Commercial
Division.
[FR Doc. 2024–05964 Filed 3–20–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
[Docket No.: FHWA–2023–0002]
Promoting Resilient Operations for
Transformative, Efficient, and CostSaving Transportation Discretionary
Program Metrics
Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
AGENCY:
The FHWA is establishing
metrics for the purpose of evaluating the
effectiveness and impacts of projects
under the Promoting Resilient
Operations for Transformative, Efficient,
and Cost-Saving Transportation
(PROTECT) Discretionary Grant
Program. The FHWA will select a
representative sample of projects to
evaluate using these metrics. This notice
fulfills FHWA’s requirement to publish
the proposed metrics in the Federal
Register for public comment.
DATES: Submit comments on the
proposed metrics by May 20, 2024.
ADDRESSES: To ensure that you do not
duplicate your docket submissions,
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\21MRN1.SGM
21MRN1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 56 / Thursday, March 21, 2024 / Notices
please submit comments by only one of
the following means:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
www.regulations.gov and follow the
online instructions for submitting
comments.
• Mail: Docket Management Facility,
U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building
Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590;
• Hand Delivery: West Building
Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC
20590, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
ET, Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. The telephone number
is (202) 366–9329;
• Instructions: You must include the
Agency name and docket number for the
notice at the beginning of your
comments. All comments received will
be posted without change to
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rebecca Lupes, Office of Natural
Environment; Rebecca.Lupes@dot.gov,
202–366–7808, 1200 New Jersey Avenue
SE, Washington, DC 20590, or Alla C.
Shaw, Esq. HCC–30, Alla.Shaw@
dot.gov, (202) 366–1042, Room E84–463,
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC 20590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
I. Background
On November 15, 2021, the President
signed the Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act (IIJA) (Pub. L. 117–58, also
known as the ‘‘Bipartisan Infrastructure
Law’’ (BIL)) into law.
Section 11405 of the BIL established
the PROTECT Formula and
Discretionary Grant Programs, which are
codified in section 176 of Title 23,
United States Code (U.S.C). Although
both the PROTECT Formula and
Discretionary Grant Programs share
common activities, this notice focuses
only on the discretionary grants
authorized under 23 U.S.C. 176(d).
Under 23 U.S.C. 176(f), FHWA is
directed to establish metrics for the
purpose of evaluating the effectiveness
and impacts of PROTECT Discretionary
Grant Program-funded projects and
procedures for monitoring and
evaluating projects based on those
metrics. The FHWA is also required to
select a representative sample of
projects to be evaluated based on these
metrics and procedures. This notice
provides an opportunity for public
comment on the proposed metrics
before they are adopted. (23 U.S.C.
176(f)(2)). The FHWA may adjust these
metrics based on feedback from this
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:53 Mar 20, 2024
Jkt 262001
notice and from grant recipients, as well
as FHWA’s assessment of analytical and
data challenges and ongoing assessment
of the utility of each measure.
The vision of the PROTECT
Discretionary Grant Program is to fund
projects that address the climate crisis
by improving the resilience of the
surface transportation system, including
highways, public transportation, ports,
and intercity passenger rail. Projects
selected under this program should be
grounded in the best available scientific
understanding of climate change risks,
impacts, and vulnerabilities. Projects
should support the continued operation
or rapid recovery of crucial local,
regional, or national surface
transportation facilities. Furthermore,
selected projects should utilize
innovative and collaborative approaches
to risk reduction, including the use of
natural infrastructure, which is
explicitly eligible under the program.
Natural infrastructure (also called
nature-based solutions) strategies
include conservation, restoration, or
construction of riparian and streambed
treatments, marshes, wetlands, native
vegetation, stormwater bioswales,
breakwaters, reefs, dunes, parks, urban
forests, and shade trees. Nature-based
solutions reduce flood risks, erosion,
wave damage, and heat impacts while
also creating habitat, filtering pollutants,
and providing recreational benefits.
Projects in the PROTECT Discretionary
Grant Program have the potential to
demonstrate innovation in the area of
resiliency and best practices that State
and local governments in other parts of
the country can consider replicating.
By funding projects that improve
resilience to natural hazards and climate
change impacts, the PROTECT
Discretionary Grant Program aims to
reduce damage and disruption to the
transportation system, improve the
safety of the traveling public, and
improve equity by addressing the needs
of disadvantaged communities that are
often the most vulnerable to hazards.
The FHWA will seek to award projects
to communities that demonstrate a
strong need for the funding. The
program also includes set asides for
rural communities and Indian Tribes.
Under the PROTECT Discretionary
Grant Program, similar to the PROTECT
Formula Program, grant funds may only
be used for activities that are primarily
for the purpose of resilience or
inherently resilience-related.
There are four categories of funding
under the PROTECT Discretionary Grant
Program. One category is for Planning
Grants. The other three categories are for
Resilience Improvement, Community
Resilience and Evacuation Routes, and
PO 00000
Frm 00131
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
20291
At-Risk Coastal Infrastructure projects,
collectively referred to as Resilience
Grants. The FHWA is seeking input on
proposed performance metrics that will
enable the Agency to measure the
impact and effectiveness of a
representative sample of grant projects
funded under the PROTECT
Discretionary Grant Program. Proposed
metrics are located in Section II of this
notice.
Definitions
• Baseline refers to the observed level
of performance for a specified timeframe
from which implementation begins,
improvement is judged, or comparison
is made.1
• Goal is a broad statement of a
desired end condition or outcome; a
unique piece of the Agency’s vision.
• Performance Measures are
quantifiable and are based upon a
defined metric used to track progress
toward goals, objectives, and
achievement of established targets. They
should be manageable, sustainable, and
based on collaboration with partners.
Measures provide an effective basis for
evaluating strategies for performance
improvement.
• Metric is an indicator of
performance or condition.
• Effectiveness refers to the extent to
which a project is achieving one or more
of the PROTECT Discretionary Grant
Program objectives.2
• Impact refers to a valuation of a
project’s outcomes, including estimating
what would have happened in the
absence of the project.
• Robustness refers to the strength, or
the ability of elements, systems, and
other measures of analysis to withstand
a given level of stress or demand
without suffering degradation or loss of
function.3
• Redundancy is the extent to which
elements, systems, or other measures of
analysis exist that are substitutable, i.e.,
1 For the purpose of this notice, FHWA is
utilizing definitions for the performance
management terms ‘‘baseline’’, ‘‘goal’’,
‘‘performance measure’’, and ‘‘metric’’ from the
FHWA Transportation Performance Management
(TPM) Guidebook available at https://
www.tpmtools.org/guidebook/.
2 The FHWA is utilizing a variation of the U.S.
Government Accountability Office’s (GAO)
definitions for the terms ‘‘effectiveness’’ and
‘‘impact.’’ See GAO. Program Evaluation Key Terms
and Concepts. GAO–21–404SP (2021), available at
https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-21-404sp.pdf.
3 The FHWA is utilizing Bruneau et.al.’s
definitions for the terms ‘‘Robustness’’,
‘‘Redundancy’’, ‘‘Resourcefulness’’ and ‘‘Rapidity’’.
See: Bruneau, M., SE Chang, R.T. Eguchi, G.C. Lee,
T.D. O’Rourke, A.M. Reinhorn, M. Shinozuka, K.
Tierney, W.A. Wallace, and D.V. Winterfeldt. 2003.
‘‘A Framework to Quantitatively Assess and
Enhance the Seismic Resilience of Communities.’’
Earthquake Spectra 19:733–752.
E:\FR\FM\21MRN1.SGM
21MRN1
20292
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 56 / Thursday, March 21, 2024 / Notices
capable of satisfying functional
requirements in the event of disruption,
degradation, or loss of functionality.
• Resourcefulness refers to the
capacity to identify problems, establish
priorities, and mobilize resources when
conditions exist that threatens to disrupt
some element, system, or other
measures of analysis.
• Rapidity is the capacity to meet
priorities and achieve goals in a timely
manner in order to contain losses,
recover functionality and avoid future
disruption.
Areas Where FHWA Is Seeking Input
• Number and detail of proposed
metrics. The FHWA seeks comment on
the number and level of detail of the
proposed metrics.
• Data availability. The FHWA is
seeking comment regarding the extent to
which data resources are readily
available to support the proposed
metrics.
• Decision support. The FHWA
intends for the proposed metrics to
provide useful and timely data to inform
transportation decision-making. The
FHWA seeks comment on how data
collected and published by the Agency
may later be utilized by State
departments of transportation,
metropolitan planning organizations,
cities, Tribes, and other stakeholders to
deepen the understanding of resilience.
• Reporting burden. The FHWA seeks
general comments on reporting burden
associated with FHWA’s collection of
resilience metric data on the projects
FHWA selects to monitor, especially
PROTECT Discretionary Program Grant
projects located in disadvantaged or
environmental justice communities.
II. Project Metrics
a. Planning Grants
The purpose of PROTECT
Discretionary Grant Program Planning
Grants is to enable communities to
assess vulnerabilities to current and
future weather events and natural
disasters and changing conditions,
including sea level rise, and plan
transportation improvements and
emergency response strategies to
address those vulnerabilities (23 U.S.C.
176(b)(2)(B)). To assess the effectiveness
and impact of projects in fulfilling this
purpose, FHWA established the
program objectives and performance
measures identified in Table 1. The
FHWA will monitor progress made on
each applicable performance measure
using the associated metrics in Table 1.
TABLE 1—PROTECT PLANNING GRANT PERFORMANCE METRICS
Aligned DOT strategic goal
Program objective
Applicability
P1 ........
Climate & Sustainability.
Integrate resilience
in transportation
planning and programming.
Planning
P2 ........
Climate & Sustainability.
Integrate resilience
in transportation
planning and programming.
Planning
P3 ........
Climate & Sustainability.
Integrate resilience
in transportation
planning and programming.
Planning
P4 ........
Climate & Sustainability.
Integrate resilience
in transportation
planning and programming.
Planning
P5 ........
Climate & Sustainability.
Improve evacuation
planning and
emergency management preparations.
Planning
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
ID#
Performance measure
Performance metric
Grant recipient plans that integrate resilience to ensure
alignment with long range
transportation plans (State
or metropolitan).
Number of grant recipient and
partner plans that integrate
resilience to ensure alignment with long range transportation plans (State or
metropolitan).
Grant recipient procured or
Number and type of tools proutilized tools for resilience
cured or utilized for resilrelated planning analysis to
ience related planning analassess hazard severity, duysis to assess hazard seration, and recovery of hazverity, duration, and recovard events.
ery of hazard events.
Public involvement processes
Number and type of public in(e.g., events or documents)
volvement processes (e.g.,
where resilience and resilevents or documents) where
ience related topics are disresilience and resilience recussed.
lated topics are discussed.
Scenario Planning analyses
Qualitative description of how
that include resilience.
resilience has been incorporated into scenario planning processes and analyses and how results have
been used.
Grant recipient and partner
Number of evacuation-related
evacuation plans incorplans, tools, or procedures
porated into an agency’s
incorporated into Grant reoverall processes or policies.
cipient’s overall processes
or policies.
b. Resilience Grants
i. Resilience Improvement Grants
The metrics in Table 2 will apply to
the three PROTECT Discretionary
Program Resilience Grant categories that
fund construction: Resilience
Improvement Grants, Community
Resilience & Evacuation Route Grants,
and At-Risk Coastal Infrastructure
Grants. The FHWA will use these
metrics to assess the effectiveness and
impact of projects in fulfilling the
statutory purpose for these three grant
types, which are described below.
An eligible entity may use a resilience
improvement grant for one or more
construction activities to improve the
ability of an existing surface
transportation asset to withstand one or
more elements of a weather event or
natural disaster, or to increase the
resilience of surface transportation
infrastructure from the impacts of
changing conditions, such as sea level
rise, flooding, wildfires, extreme
weather events, and other natural
disasters. (23 U.S.C. 176(d)(4)(A)(ii)(I)).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:53 Mar 20, 2024
Jkt 262001
PO 00000
Frm 00132
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Data source
FHWA interviews the Grant
recipient to obtain this local/
self-reported data.
FHWA interviews the Grant
recipient to obtain this local/
self-reported data.
FHWA interviews the Grant
recipient to obtain this local/
self-reported data.
FHWA interviews the Grant
recipient to obtain this local/
self-reported data.
FHWA interviews the Grant
recipient to obtain this local/
self-reported data.
ii. Community Resilience and
Evacuation Route Grants
An eligible entity may use a
community resilience and evacuation
route grant for one or more projects that
strengthen and protect evacuation
routes that are essential for providing
and supporting evacuations caused by
emergency events. (23 U.S.C.
176(d)(4)(B)(ii)(I–III)).
iii. At-Risk Coastal Infrastructure Grants
An eligible entity may use an at-risk
coastal infrastructure grant for
strengthening, stabilizing, hardening,
elevating, relocating, or otherwise
E:\FR\FM\21MRN1.SGM
21MRN1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 56 / Thursday, March 21, 2024 / Notices
20293
enhancing the resilience of highway and
non-rail infrastructure, including
bridges, roads, pedestrian walkways,
and bicycle lanes, and associated
infrastructure, such as culverts and tide
gates to protect highways, that are
subject to, or face increased long-term
future risks of, a weather event, a
natural disaster, or changing conditions,
including coastal flooding, coastal
erosion, wave action, storm surge, or sea
level rise, in order to improve
transportation and public safety and to
reduce costs by avoiding larger future
maintenance or rebuilding costs. (23
U.S.C. 176(d)(4)(C)(iii)).
will monitor progress made on each
applicable program objective using the
performance measures and metrics in
Table 2. When collecting data on these
projects, FHWA may consider how
likely it is that specific hazards will
occur (probability) as well as the
consequences of an event occurring.
Where possible, FHWA will request preand post- event data to help assess
project effectiveness. For projects that
require a baseline year measurement,
FHWA will consult with the recipient to
determine an appropriate baseline year
to best measure effectiveness and
impact.
Grant projects to evaluate the
effectiveness and impacts of those
projects on underserved and
disadvantaged communities. The FHWA
will identify disadvantaged
communities using the Climate and
Economic Justice Screening Tool,
available here: https://screeningtool.
geoplatform.gov/en/, and DOT’s
transportation disadvantage tool,
available here: https://www.arcgis.com/
apps/dashboards/d6f90dfcc8b44525
b04c7ce748a3674al.
iv. Resilience Grant Performance
Metrics
Table 2 below lists proposed metrics
that will be used on a subset of
PROTECT Discretionary Grant Program
Resilience Grant projects FHWA selects
to monitor. For all selected projects,
FHWA will assess vulnerability and
whether the resilience improvement
reduced exposure or sensitivity or
increased adaptive capacity of the
surface transportation asset. The FHWA
v. Four ‘‘R’’ Components of Resilience
The FHWA proposes to evaluate the
effectiveness of a representative sample
of Resilience Grant projects against the
‘‘Four R’’ components of resilience:
Robustness; Redundancy;
Resourcefulness; and Rapidity.4
The column titled ‘‘applicability’’ in
Table 2 indicates whether a metric
applies only to a specific hazard or
project type. The FHWA will apply each
metric on projects selected for
monitoring based on project scope,
applicable activities, etc. Because of the
specific focus on nature-based solutions
(NBS) in the PROTECT Discretionary
Program, for example, some metrics are
designed to only apply to projects
installing NBS.
vi. Equity Metrics
The FHWA will collect
socioeconomic data from the
representative sample of Resilience
vii. Metrics Specific to Certain Hazard
and/or Project Types
TABLE 2—PROPOSED PROTECT RESILIENCE GRANT METRICS
ID#
Aligned DOT
strategic goal
Program objective
Applicability
Performance measure
Performance metric
Data source
Number of people from disadvantaged or underserved communities in
the project area with improved access (post construction) to critical
services, facilities, or
evacuation routes.
Reduction in number of people from disadvantaged
or underserved communities in the project area
affected by hazard-impacted transportation infrastructure.
FHWA may use the Climate
and Economic Justice
Screening Tool. In addition, FHWA may interview
the Grant recipient to obtain
data.
Improved performance and
ability of surface transportation facilities to withstand changing climate
conditions.
Decrease in Annual Maintenance Costs.
Change in Life Cycle Cost
(per facility) or (per mile) for
pavement system in the
project area.
FHWA conducts Life Cycle
Cost Assessment (LCCA)
comparison of replacement
in kind vs. adaptive (resilient) design.
FHWA coordinates with the
Grant recipient to obtain
this local/self-reported data.
Reduction in roadway, bridge,
and culvert vulnerability to
floods.
Number of Hydraulic countermeasures, structural
measures, or road drainage features installed or
enhanced in the project
area.
Equity Measures
R1 ........
Equity .....................
Increase transportation system effectiveness and
reliability for all
users.
All selected
projects.
Disadvantaged or underserved communities with
improved access to critical services, facilities,
or evacuation routes.
R2 ........
Equity .....................
Increase transportation system effectiveness and
reliability for all
users.
All selected
projects.
Disadvantaged or underserved communities affected by hazard-impacted transportation infrastructure.
FHWA may use the Climate
and Economic Justice
Screening Tool. In addition, FHWA may interview
the Grant recipient to obtain
data.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
ROBUSTNESS MEASURES
R3 ........
Climate and Sustainability.
Improve transportation infrastructure strength and
robustness.
All selected
projects.
R4 ........
Climate and Sustainability.
All selected
projects.
R5 ........
Climate & Sustainability.
Improve transportation infrastructure strength and
robustness.
Improve transportation infrastructure strength and
robustness.
4 Bruneau, M., SE Chang, R.T. Eguchi, G.C. Lee,
T.D. O’Rourke, A.M. Reinhorn, M. Shinozuka, K.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:53 Mar 20, 2024
Jkt 262001
Flooding/
Scour.
Change in Projected or Actual
Annual Maintenance/Repair
Costs.
Tierney, W.A. Wallace, and D.V. Winterfeldt. 2003.
‘‘A Framework to Quantitatively Assess and
PO 00000
Frm 00133
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
FHWA reviews project design
documentation submitted
by the Grant recipient. Suggested references: FHWA
Hydraulic Engineering Circular 22 and Hydraulic Engineering Circular 23 (Vols
1 & 2).
Enhance the Seismic Resilience of Communities.’’
Earthquake Spectra 19:733–752.
E:\FR\FM\21MRN1.SGM
21MRN1
20294
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 56 / Thursday, March 21, 2024 / Notices
TABLE 2—PROPOSED PROTECT RESILIENCE GRANT METRICS—Continued
ID#
Aligned DOT
strategic goal
Program objective
Applicability
Performance measure
Performance metric
Data source
Percent change in number of
coastal and other low-lying
roadway overtopping or
inundation events (due to
sea level rise, tides, and
other factors).
Number of constructed crossings designed to accommodate future projected
precipitation events or
projected changes in land
use/land cover.
Number of culverts installed
to withstand the 100-year
flood.
FHWA interviews the Grant
recipient to obtain this local/
self-reported data.
R6 ........
Climate & Sustainability.
Improve transportation infrastructure strength and
robustness.
Flooding/
Scour.
Reduction in roadway inundation or overtopping.
R7 ........
Climate & Sustainability.
Improve transportation infrastructure strength and
robustness.
Flooding/
Scour.
Reduction in stream/river
crossing vulnerability to
future projected conditions.
R8 ........
Climate & Sustainability.
Flooding/
Scour.
Reduction in stream/river
crossing vulnerability to
future projected conditions.
R9 ........
Climate & Sustainability.
Improve transportation infrastructure strength and
robustness.
Improve transportation infrastructure strength and
robustness.
Geohazards
Frequency of slope failures
Annual percent reduction in
frequency of slope failures in project area.
R10 ......
Climate & Sustainability.
Geohazards
Rockfall impact incidents
to roads and highways.
R11 ......
Climate & Sustainability.
Seismic
Vulnerability.
Seismic vulnerability rating ....
Annual percent reduction in
rockfall impact incidents to roads and highways in project area.
Change in seismic vulnerability rating.
R12 ......
Climate & Sustainability.
Improve transportation infrastructure strength and
robustness.
Improve transportation infrastructure strength and
robustness.
Improve transportation infrastructure strength and
robustness.
Erosion rate and shoreline
position.
Annual percent change in the
erosion rate and shoreline position in the
project area.
FHWA interviews the Grant
recipient to obtain this local/
self-reported data. Possible
field work required.
R13 ......
Climate & Sustainability.
Projects incorporating Nature
Based
Solutions
(Coastal).
Projects incorporating Nature
Based
Solutions.
Vegetation coverage ..........
Annual percent change in the
vegetation coverage in
the project area.
Report in cover per square
meter or number of stems
per meter.
FHWA interviews the Grant
recipient to obtain this local/
self-reported data. Possible
field work required.
Reduction in detour length
(miles) because of the
project.
FHWA reviews project design
documentation submitted
by the Grant recipient.
Annual percent change in observed closure hours for
roads or facilities in
project area.
Percent change in travel
times before, during and
after evacuation event.
FHWA interviews the Grant
recipient to obtain this local/
self-reported data.
Number of warning systems
or sensors that were used
to improve transportation
system performance.
FHWA or FHWA contractor
coordinates with the Grant
recipient to obtain this local/
self-reported data.
Improve transportation infrastructure strength and
robustness.
FHWA reviews project design
documentation submitted
by the Grant recipient.
FHWA reviews project design
documentation submitted
by the Grant recipient.
FHWA coordinates with the
Grant recipient to obtain
this local/self-reported data.
FHWA or FHWA contractor
determines pre/post-project
slope stability rating using
relevant project plans and
surveys.
FHWA coordinates with the
Grant recipient to obtain
this local/self-reported data.
FHWA completes seismic vulnerability rating analysis.
REDUNDANCY MEASURES
R14 ......
Climate & Sustainability.
Improve transportation system redundancy.
Detour lengths (miles) ........
All selected
projects.
RAPIDITY MEASURES
R15 ......
Climate & Sustainability.
R16 ......
Climate & Sustainability.
R17 ......
Climate & Sustainability.
Improve transportation system rapidity and responsiveness.
Improve transportation system rapidity and responsiveness.
All selected
projects.
Observed closure hours
for roads or facilities in
project area.
Evacuation
Routes.
Travel times before, during
and after evacuation event.
Improve transportation system resourcefulness.
All selected
projects.
FHWA will use National Performance Management Research Data Set
(NPMRDS) data or equivalent.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
RESOURCEFULNESS MEASURES
I
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:53 Mar 20, 2024
Jkt 262001
PO 00000
I
Equipment and sensor
technology that support
rapid restoration of
asset or system
functionality.
Frm 00134
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
E:\FR\FM\21MRN1.SGM
21MRN1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 56 / Thursday, March 21, 2024 / Notices
The FHWA will utilize comments
received on these draft metrics to
develop final metrics that will be used
to evaluate a representative sample of
PROTECT Discretionary Grant projects.
Final metrics will be posted on the
FHWA PROTECT website https://
www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/protect/
discretionary/.
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 176(f).
Shailen P. Bhatt,
Administrator, Federal Highway
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024–05934 Filed 3–20–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions
on Proposed Highway in California
Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of Limitation on Claims
for Judicial Review of Actions by the
California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans).
AGENCY:
The FHWA, on behalf of
Caltrans, is issuing this notice to
announce actions taken by Caltrans, that
are final. The actions relate to a
proposed highway project, on Interstate
80 between postmiles 3.9 and 5.0 and
State Route 13 (Ashby Avenue) between
postmiles 13.7 and 13.9, in the Cities of
Emeryville and Berkeley in the County
of Alameda, State of California. Those
actions grant licenses, permits, and
approvals for the project.
DATES: By this notice, the FHWA, on
behalf of Caltrans, is advising the public
of final agency actions subject to 23
U.S.C. 139(l)(1). A claim seeking
judicial review of the Federal agency
actions on the highway project will be
barred unless the claim is filed on or
before August 19, 2024. If the Federal
law that authorizes judicial review of a
claim provides a time period of less
than 150 days for filing such claim, then
that shorter time period still applies.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
Caltrans: Wahida Rashid, Branch Chief,
California Department of
Transportation. 111 Grand Avenue, MS–
8B, Oakland, California 94612. Office
hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m.–
4 p.m. Contact information:
Wahida.Rashid@dot.ca.gov and (510)
504–3139.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective
July 1, 2007, the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) assigned, and
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:53 Mar 20, 2024
Jkt 262001
the California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans) assumed,
environmental responsibilities for this
project pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327.
Notice is hereby given that the Caltrans
has taken final agency actions subject to
23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1) by issuing licenses,
permits, and approvals for the following
highway project in the State of
California: The California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans) District 4, in
partnership with the Alameda County
Transportation Commission (Alameda
CTC), proposes to provide interchange
and local road improvements along
Interstate 80 (I–80) at the Ashby Avenue
Interchange. The project will replace the
existing interchange connector ramps
with a new bridge over I–80, realign
access to West Frontage Road, and
introduce a new bicycle-pedestrian
overcrossing connection over I–80 from
65th Street/Shellmound Street to the
San Francisco Bay Trail. The actions by
the Federal agencies, and the laws
under which such actions were taken,
are described in the Final
Environmental Document (FED) and
Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) for the project, approved on
December 28, 2023, and in other
documents in the project records. The
FED, FONSI, and other project records
are available by contacting Caltrans at
the information provided above. The
Caltrans FED and FONSI can be viewed
and downloaded from the project
website at https://dot.ca.gov/caltransnear-me/district-4/d4-popular-links/d4environmental-docs.
This notice applies to all Federal
agency decisions as of the issuance date
of this notice and all laws under which
such actions were taken, including but
not limited to:
1. National Environmental Policy Act of
1969
2. Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7401–7671
3. Endangered Species Act of 1973
(ESA), 16 U.S.C. 1531–1544
4. Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, 16
U.S.C. 703–712
5. Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act,
16 U.S.C. 661–666
6. National Historic Preservation Act of
1966 (NHPA)
7. Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251–
1387 (Sections 319, 401, and 404)
8. Executive Order 11988 Floodplain
Management, Executive Order
11990 Protection of Wetlands,
Executive Order 12088 Federal
Compliance with Pollution Control
Standards, Executive Order 12898
Federal Actions to Address
Environmental Justin in Minority
Populations and Low-Income
Populations
PO 00000
Frm 00135
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
20295
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program Number 20.205, Highway Planning
and Construction. The regulations
implementing Executive Order 12372
regarding intergovernmental consultation on
Federal programs and activities apply to this
program.)
(Authority: 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1))
Antonio Johnson,
Director of Planning, Environmental and
Right of Way, Federal Highway
Administration, California Division.
[FR Doc. 2024–05973 Filed 3–20–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–RY–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
[Docket Number MARAD–2023–0119]
Deepwater Port License Application:
Grand Isle LNG Operating Company,
LLC; Application Withdrawal
Maritime Administration,
Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Notice of application
withdrawal.
AGENCY:
The Maritime Administration
(MARAD) and the U.S. Coast Guard
(USCG) announce the cancellation of all
actions related to the processing of a
license application for the proposed
Grand Isle LNG Export Deepwater Port
Development Project deepwater port.
The action announced here also
includes cancellation of all activities
related to the deepwater port
application review and preparation of
an Environmental Impact Statement that
was previously published in the Federal
Register on Monday, July 3, 2023. The
publication of this notice is in response
to the applicant’s decision to withdraw
the application.
DATES: The cancellation of all actions
related to this deepwater port license
application was effective February 29,
2023.
SUMMARY:
The public docket for the
Grand Isle LNG Export Deepwater Port
Development Project deepwater port
license application is maintained by the
U.S. Department of Transportation,
Docket Management Facility located at
the U.S. Department of Transportation,
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West
Building, Room W12–140, Washington,
DC 20590. The docket may be viewed
electronically at https://
www.regulations.gov and searching for
the docket number, MARAD–2023–
0119.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Contact either Mr. Brian S. Barton at the
Maritime Administration via email at
E:\FR\FM\21MRN1.SGM
21MRN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 56 (Thursday, March 21, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20290-20295]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05934]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
[Docket No.: FHWA-2023-0002]
Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and
Cost-Saving Transportation Discretionary Program Metrics
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FHWA is establishing metrics for the purpose of evaluating
the effectiveness and impacts of projects under the Promoting Resilient
Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving
Transportation (PROTECT) Discretionary Grant Program. The FHWA will
select a representative sample of projects to evaluate using these
metrics. This notice fulfills FHWA's requirement to publish the
proposed metrics in the Federal Register for public comment.
DATES: Submit comments on the proposed metrics by May 20, 2024.
ADDRESSES: To ensure that you do not duplicate your docket submissions,
[[Page 20291]]
please submit comments by only one of the following means:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov and
follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590;
Hand Delivery: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140,
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, between 9:00 a.m. and
5:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The
telephone number is (202) 366-9329;
Instructions: You must include the Agency name and docket
number for the notice at the beginning of your comments. All comments
received will be posted without change to www.regulations.gov,
including any personal information provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Lupes, Office of Natural
Environment; [email protected], 202-366-7808, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, or Alla C. Shaw, Esq. HCC-30,
[email protected], (202) 366-1042, Room E84-463, 1200 New Jersey Avenue
SE, Washington, DC 20590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
On November 15, 2021, the President signed the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (Pub. L. 117-58, also known as the
``Bipartisan Infrastructure Law'' (BIL)) into law.
Section 11405 of the BIL established the PROTECT Formula and
Discretionary Grant Programs, which are codified in section 176 of
Title 23, United States Code (U.S.C). Although both the PROTECT Formula
and Discretionary Grant Programs share common activities, this notice
focuses only on the discretionary grants authorized under 23 U.S.C.
176(d). Under 23 U.S.C. 176(f), FHWA is directed to establish metrics
for the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness and impacts of PROTECT
Discretionary Grant Program-funded projects and procedures for
monitoring and evaluating projects based on those metrics. The FHWA is
also required to select a representative sample of projects to be
evaluated based on these metrics and procedures. This notice provides
an opportunity for public comment on the proposed metrics before they
are adopted. (23 U.S.C. 176(f)(2)). The FHWA may adjust these metrics
based on feedback from this notice and from grant recipients, as well
as FHWA's assessment of analytical and data challenges and ongoing
assessment of the utility of each measure.
The vision of the PROTECT Discretionary Grant Program is to fund
projects that address the climate crisis by improving the resilience of
the surface transportation system, including highways, public
transportation, ports, and intercity passenger rail. Projects selected
under this program should be grounded in the best available scientific
understanding of climate change risks, impacts, and vulnerabilities.
Projects should support the continued operation or rapid recovery of
crucial local, regional, or national surface transportation facilities.
Furthermore, selected projects should utilize innovative and
collaborative approaches to risk reduction, including the use of
natural infrastructure, which is explicitly eligible under the program.
Natural infrastructure (also called nature-based solutions) strategies
include conservation, restoration, or construction of riparian and
streambed treatments, marshes, wetlands, native vegetation, stormwater
bioswales, breakwaters, reefs, dunes, parks, urban forests, and shade
trees. Nature-based solutions reduce flood risks, erosion, wave damage,
and heat impacts while also creating habitat, filtering pollutants, and
providing recreational benefits. Projects in the PROTECT Discretionary
Grant Program have the potential to demonstrate innovation in the area
of resiliency and best practices that State and local governments in
other parts of the country can consider replicating.
By funding projects that improve resilience to natural hazards and
climate change impacts, the PROTECT Discretionary Grant Program aims to
reduce damage and disruption to the transportation system, improve the
safety of the traveling public, and improve equity by addressing the
needs of disadvantaged communities that are often the most vulnerable
to hazards. The FHWA will seek to award projects to communities that
demonstrate a strong need for the funding. The program also includes
set asides for rural communities and Indian Tribes.
Under the PROTECT Discretionary Grant Program, similar to the
PROTECT Formula Program, grant funds may only be used for activities
that are primarily for the purpose of resilience or inherently
resilience-related.
There are four categories of funding under the PROTECT
Discretionary Grant Program. One category is for Planning Grants. The
other three categories are for Resilience Improvement, Community
Resilience and Evacuation Routes, and At-Risk Coastal Infrastructure
projects, collectively referred to as Resilience Grants. The FHWA is
seeking input on proposed performance metrics that will enable the
Agency to measure the impact and effectiveness of a representative
sample of grant projects funded under the PROTECT Discretionary Grant
Program. Proposed metrics are located in Section II of this notice.
Definitions
Baseline refers to the observed level of performance for a
specified timeframe from which implementation begins, improvement is
judged, or comparison is made.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ For the purpose of this notice, FHWA is utilizing
definitions for the performance management terms ``baseline'',
``goal'', ``performance measure'', and ``metric'' from the FHWA
Transportation Performance Management (TPM) Guidebook available at
https://www.tpmtools.org/guidebook/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goal is a broad statement of a desired end condition or
outcome; a unique piece of the Agency's vision.
Performance Measures are quantifiable and are based upon a
defined metric used to track progress toward goals, objectives, and
achievement of established targets. They should be manageable,
sustainable, and based on collaboration with partners. Measures provide
an effective basis for evaluating strategies for performance
improvement.
Metric is an indicator of performance or condition.
Effectiveness refers to the extent to which a project is
achieving one or more of the PROTECT Discretionary Grant Program
objectives.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ The FHWA is utilizing a variation of the U.S. Government
Accountability Office's (GAO) definitions for the terms
``effectiveness'' and ``impact.'' See GAO. Program Evaluation Key
Terms and Concepts. GAO-21-404SP (2021), available at https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-21-404sp.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Impact refers to a valuation of a project's outcomes,
including estimating what would have happened in the absence of the
project.
Robustness refers to the strength, or the ability of
elements, systems, and other measures of analysis to withstand a given
level of stress or demand without suffering degradation or loss of
function.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The FHWA is utilizing Bruneau et.al.'s definitions for the
terms ``Robustness'', ``Redundancy'', ``Resourcefulness'' and
``Rapidity''. See: Bruneau, M., SE Chang, R.T. Eguchi, G.C. Lee,
T.D. O'Rourke, A.M. Reinhorn, M. Shinozuka, K. Tierney, W.A.
Wallace, and D.V. Winterfeldt. 2003. ``A Framework to Quantitatively
Assess and Enhance the Seismic Resilience of Communities.''
Earthquake Spectra 19:733-752.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redundancy is the extent to which elements, systems, or
other measures of analysis exist that are substitutable, i.e.,
[[Page 20292]]
capable of satisfying functional requirements in the event of
disruption, degradation, or loss of functionality.
Resourcefulness refers to the capacity to identify
problems, establish priorities, and mobilize resources when conditions
exist that threatens to disrupt some element, system, or other measures
of analysis.
Rapidity is the capacity to meet priorities and achieve
goals in a timely manner in order to contain losses, recover
functionality and avoid future disruption.
Areas Where FHWA Is Seeking Input
Number and detail of proposed metrics. The FHWA seeks
comment on the number and level of detail of the proposed metrics.
Data availability. The FHWA is seeking comment regarding
the extent to which data resources are readily available to support the
proposed metrics.
Decision support. The FHWA intends for the proposed
metrics to provide useful and timely data to inform transportation
decision-making. The FHWA seeks comment on how data collected and
published by the Agency may later be utilized by State departments of
transportation, metropolitan planning organizations, cities, Tribes,
and other stakeholders to deepen the understanding of resilience.
Reporting burden. The FHWA seeks general comments on
reporting burden associated with FHWA's collection of resilience metric
data on the projects FHWA selects to monitor, especially PROTECT
Discretionary Program Grant projects located in disadvantaged or
environmental justice communities.
II. Project Metrics
a. Planning Grants
The purpose of PROTECT Discretionary Grant Program Planning Grants
is to enable communities to assess vulnerabilities to current and
future weather events and natural disasters and changing conditions,
including sea level rise, and plan transportation improvements and
emergency response strategies to address those vulnerabilities (23
U.S.C. 176(b)(2)(B)). To assess the effectiveness and impact of
projects in fulfilling this purpose, FHWA established the program
objectives and performance measures identified in Table 1. The FHWA
will monitor progress made on each applicable performance measure using
the associated metrics in Table 1.
Table 1--PROTECT Planning Grant Performance Metrics
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aligned DOT Program Performance Performance
ID# strategic goal objective Applicability measure metric Data source
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P1....... Climate & Integrate Planning....... Grant recipient Number of grant FHWA interviews
Sustainability. resilience in plans that recipient and the Grant
transportation integrate partner plans recipient to
planning and resilience to that integrate obtain this
programming. ensure resilience to local/self-
alignment with ensure reported data.
long range alignment with
transportation long range
plans (State transportation
or plans (State
metropolitan). or
metropolitan).
P2....... Climate & Integrate Planning....... Grant recipient Number and type FHWA interviews
Sustainability. resilience in procured or of tools the Grant
transportation utilized tools procured or recipient to
planning and for resilience utilized for obtain this
programming. related resilience local/self-
planning related reported data.
analysis to planning
assess hazard analysis to
severity, assess hazard
duration, and severity,
recovery of duration, and
hazard events. recovery of
hazard events.
P3....... Climate & Integrate Planning....... Public Number and type FHWA interviews
Sustainability. resilience in involvement of public the Grant
transportation processes involvement recipient to
planning and (e.g., events processes obtain this
programming. or documents) (e.g., events local/self-
where or documents) reported data.
resilience and where
resilience resilience and
related topics resilience
are discussed. related topics
are discussed.
P4....... Climate & Integrate Planning....... Scenario Qualitative FHWA interviews
Sustainability. resilience in Planning description of the Grant
transportation analyses that how resilience recipient to
planning and include has been obtain this
programming. resilience. incorporated local/self-
into scenario reported data.
planning
processes and
analyses and
how results
have been used.
P5....... Climate & Improve Planning....... Grant recipient Number of FHWA interviews
Sustainability. evacuation and partner evacuation- the Grant
planning and evacuation related plans, recipient to
emergency plans tools, or obtain this
management incorporated procedures local/self-
preparations. into an incorporated reported data.
agency's into Grant
overall recipient's
processes or overall
policies. processes or
policies.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
b. Resilience Grants
The metrics in Table 2 will apply to the three PROTECT
Discretionary Program Resilience Grant categories that fund
construction: Resilience Improvement Grants, Community Resilience &
Evacuation Route Grants, and At-Risk Coastal Infrastructure Grants. The
FHWA will use these metrics to assess the effectiveness and impact of
projects in fulfilling the statutory purpose for these three grant
types, which are described below.
i. Resilience Improvement Grants
An eligible entity may use a resilience improvement grant for one
or more construction activities to improve the ability of an existing
surface transportation asset to withstand one or more elements of a
weather event or natural disaster, or to increase the resilience of
surface transportation infrastructure from the impacts of changing
conditions, such as sea level rise, flooding, wildfires, extreme
weather events, and other natural disasters. (23 U.S.C.
176(d)(4)(A)(ii)(I)).
ii. Community Resilience and Evacuation Route Grants
An eligible entity may use a community resilience and evacuation
route grant for one or more projects that strengthen and protect
evacuation routes that are essential for providing and supporting
evacuations caused by emergency events. (23 U.S.C. 176(d)(4)(B)(ii)(I-
III)).
iii. At-Risk Coastal Infrastructure Grants
An eligible entity may use an at-risk coastal infrastructure grant
for strengthening, stabilizing, hardening, elevating, relocating, or
otherwise
[[Page 20293]]
enhancing the resilience of highway and non-rail infrastructure,
including bridges, roads, pedestrian walkways, and bicycle lanes, and
associated infrastructure, such as culverts and tide gates to protect
highways, that are subject to, or face increased long-term future risks
of, a weather event, a natural disaster, or changing conditions,
including coastal flooding, coastal erosion, wave action, storm surge,
or sea level rise, in order to improve transportation and public safety
and to reduce costs by avoiding larger future maintenance or rebuilding
costs. (23 U.S.C. 176(d)(4)(C)(iii)).
iv. Resilience Grant Performance Metrics
Table 2 below lists proposed metrics that will be used on a subset
of PROTECT Discretionary Grant Program Resilience Grant projects FHWA
selects to monitor. For all selected projects, FHWA will assess
vulnerability and whether the resilience improvement reduced exposure
or sensitivity or increased adaptive capacity of the surface
transportation asset. The FHWA will monitor progress made on each
applicable program objective using the performance measures and metrics
in Table 2. When collecting data on these projects, FHWA may consider
how likely it is that specific hazards will occur (probability) as well
as the consequences of an event occurring. Where possible, FHWA will
request pre- and post- event data to help assess project effectiveness.
For projects that require a baseline year measurement, FHWA will
consult with the recipient to determine an appropriate baseline year to
best measure effectiveness and impact.
v. Four ``R'' Components of Resilience
The FHWA proposes to evaluate the effectiveness of a representative
sample of Resilience Grant projects against the ``Four R'' components
of resilience: Robustness; Redundancy; Resourcefulness; and
Rapidity.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ Bruneau, M., SE Chang, R.T. Eguchi, G.C. Lee, T.D. O'Rourke,
A.M. Reinhorn, M. Shinozuka, K. Tierney, W.A. Wallace, and D.V.
Winterfeldt. 2003. ``A Framework to Quantitatively Assess and
Enhance the Seismic Resilience of Communities.'' Earthquake Spectra
19:733-752.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
vi. Equity Metrics
The FHWA will collect socioeconomic data from the representative
sample of Resilience Grant projects to evaluate the effectiveness and
impacts of those projects on underserved and disadvantaged communities.
The FHWA will identify disadvantaged communities using the Climate and
Economic Justice Screening Tool, available here: https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/, and DOT's transportation
disadvantage tool, available here: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/d6f90dfcc8b44525b04c7ce748a3674a_.
vii. Metrics Specific to Certain Hazard and/or Project Types
The column titled ``applicability'' in Table 2 indicates whether a
metric applies only to a specific hazard or project type. The FHWA will
apply each metric on projects selected for monitoring based on project
scope, applicable activities, etc. Because of the specific focus on
nature-based solutions (NBS) in the PROTECT Discretionary Program, for
example, some metrics are designed to only apply to projects installing
NBS.
Table 2--Proposed PROTECT Resilience Grant Metrics
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aligned DOT Program Performance Performance
ID# strategic goal objective Applicability measure metric Data source
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equity Measures
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
R1....... Equity.......... Increase All selected Disadvantaged Number of FHWA may use
transportation projects. or underserved people from the Climate
system communities disadvantaged and Economic
effectiveness with improved or underserved Justice
and access to communities in Screening
reliability critical the project Tool. In
for all users. services, area with addition, FHWA
facilities, or improved may interview
evacuation access (post the Grant
routes. construction) recipient to
to critical obtain data.
services,
facilities, or
evacuation
routes.
R2....... Equity.......... Increase All selected Disadvantaged Reduction in FHWA may use
transportation projects. or underserved number of the Climate
system communities people from and Economic
effectiveness affected by disadvantaged Justice
and hazard- or underserved Screening
reliability impacted communities in Tool. In
for all users. transportation the project addition, FHWA
infrastructure. area affected may interview
by hazard- the Grant
impacted recipient to
transportation obtain data.
infrastructure.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ROBUSTNESS MEASURES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
R3....... Climate and Improve All selected Improved Change in Life FHWA conducts
Sustainability. transportation projects. performance Cycle Cost Life Cycle
infrastructure and ability of (per facility) Cost
strength and surface or (per mile) Assessment
robustness. transportation for pavement (LCCA)
facilities to system in the comparison of
withstand project area. replacement in
changing kind vs.
climate adaptive
conditions. (resilient)
design.
R4....... Climate and Improve All selected Decrease in Change in FHWA
Sustainability. transportation projects. Annual Projected or coordinates
infrastructure Maintenance Actual Annual with the Grant
strength and Costs. Maintenance/ recipient to
robustness. Repair Costs. obtain this
local/self-
reported data.
R5....... Climate & Improve Flooding/Scour. Reduction in Number of FHWA reviews
Sustainability. transportation roadway, Hydraulic project design
infrastructure bridge, and countermeasure documentation
strength and culvert s, structural submitted by
robustness. vulnerability measures, or the Grant
to floods. road drainage recipient.
features Suggested
installed or references:
enhanced in FHWA Hydraulic
the project Engineering
area. Circular 22
and Hydraulic
Engineering
Circular 23
(Vols 1 & 2).
[[Page 20294]]
R6....... Climate & Improve Flooding/Scour. Reduction in Percent change FHWA interviews
Sustainability. transportation roadway in number of the Grant
infrastructure inundation or coastal and recipient to
strength and overtopping. other low- obtain this
robustness. lying roadway local/self-
overtopping or reported data.
inundation
events (due to
sea level
rise, tides,
and other
factors).
R7....... Climate & Improve Flooding/Scour. Reduction in Number of FHWA reviews
Sustainability. transportation stream/river constructed project design
infrastructure crossing crossings documentation
strength and vulnerability designed to submitted by
robustness. to future accommodate the Grant
projected future recipient.
conditions. projected
precipitation
events or
projected
changes in
land use/land
cover.
R8....... Climate & Improve Flooding/Scour. Reduction in Number of FHWA reviews
Sustainability. transportation stream/river culverts project design
infrastructure crossing installed to documentation
strength and vulnerability withstand the submitted by
robustness. to future 100-year flood. the Grant
projected recipient.
conditions.
R9....... Climate & Improve Geohazards..... Frequency of Annual percent FHWA
Sustainability. transportation slope failures. reduction in coordinates
infrastructure frequency of with the Grant
strength and slope failures recipient to
robustness. in project obtain this
area. local/self-
reported data.
FHWA or FHWA
contractor
determines pre/
post-project
slope
stability
rating using
relevant
project plans
and surveys.
R10...... Climate & Improve Geohazards..... Rockfall impact Annual percent FHWA
Sustainability. transportation incidents to reduction in coordinates
infrastructure roads and rockfall with the Grant
strength and highways. impact recipient to
robustness. incidents to obtain this
roads and local/self-
highways in reported data.
project area.
R11...... Climate & Improve Seismic Seismic Change in FHWA completes
Sustainability. transportation Vulnerability. vulnerability seismic seismic
infrastructure rating. vulnerability vulnerability
strength and rating. rating
robustness. analysis.
R12...... Climate & Improve Projects Erosion rate Annual percent FHWA interviews
Sustainability. transportation incorporating and shoreline change in the the Grant
infrastructure Nature Based position. erosion rate recipient to
strength and Solutions and shoreline obtain this
robustness. (Coastal). position in local/self-
the project reported data.
area. Possible field
work required.
R13...... Climate & Improve Projects Vegetation Annual percent FHWA interviews
Sustainability. transportation incorporating coverage. change in the the Grant
infrastructure Nature Based vegetation recipient to
strength and Solutions. coverage in obtain this
robustness. the project local/self-
area. reported data.
Report in cover Possible field
per square work required.
meter or
number of
stems per
meter.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REDUNDANCY MEASURES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
R14...... Climate & Improve All selected Detour lengths Reduction in FHWA reviews
Sustainability. transportation projects. (miles). detour length project design
system (miles) documentation
redundancy. because of the submitted by
project. the Grant
recipient.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RAPIDITY MEASURES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
R15...... Climate & Improve All selected Observed Annual percent FHWA interviews
Sustainability. transportation projects. closure hours change in the Grant
system for roads or observed recipient to
rapidity and facilities in closure hours obtain this
responsiveness. project area. for roads or local/self-
facilities in reported data.
project area.
R16...... Climate & Improve Evacuation Travel times Percent change FHWA will use
Sustainability. transportation Routes. before, during in travel National
system and after times before, Performance
rapidity and evacuation during and Management
responsiveness. event. after Research Data
evacuation Set (NPMRDS)
event. data or
equivalent.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RESOURCEFULNESS MEASURES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
R17...... Climate & Improve All selected Equipment and Number of FHWA or FHWA
Sustainability. transportation projects. sensor warning contractor
system technology systems or coordinates
resourcefulnes that support sensors that with the Grant
s. rapid were used to recipient to
restoration of improve obtain this
asset or transportation local/self-
system system reported data.
functionality. performance.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 20295]]
The FHWA will utilize comments received on these draft metrics to
develop final metrics that will be used to evaluate a representative
sample of PROTECT Discretionary Grant projects. Final metrics will be
posted on the FHWA PROTECT website https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/protect/discretionary/.
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 176(f).
Shailen P. Bhatt,
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-05934 Filed 3-20-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P
