Federal Highway Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an environmental impact statement will not be prepared for a proposed transportation project in Alton and Godfrey, Illinois in an area bounded roughly by IL Route 3 on the south; Seminary Road on the east; Seiler Road on the north and US 67 on the west.

The FHWA is announcing the extension of the deadline for nomination applications for the Motorcyclist Advisory Council (MAC) until March 23, 2017.

This notice announces actions taken by TxDOT and Federal agencies that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried-out by TxDOT pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated December 16, 2014 and executed by FHWA and TxDOT. The actions relate to a proposed highway project, State Highway 99 (Grand Parkway) Segment B, from SH 288 to IH 45 South, in Brazoria and Galveston Counties in the State of Texas. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project. Under MAP-21 section 1319, TxDOT has issued a separate Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) for this action.

The FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by Caltrans, that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project, on State Route 29, in the County of Lake, State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

In accordance with the memorandum of January 20, 2017, from the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, entitled ``Regulatory Freeze Pending Review,'' published in the Federal Register on January 24, 2017, the Department delays the effective dates of the following regulations until March 21, 2017: National Performance Management Measures; Assessing Pavement Condition for the National Highway Performance program and Bridge Condition for the National Highway Performance Program, RIN 2125-AF53; and National Performance Management measures; Assessing Performance of the National Highway System, Freight Movement on the Interstate System, and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program, RIN 2125-AF54.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that the Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS for the proposed Lone Star Rail transportation project to construct and operate a regional passenger rail service system along the IH-35 corridor connecting the greater Austin and San Antonio metropolitan areas is rescinded. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will no longer prepare an EIS for the Lone Star Rail Project.

The purpose of this final rule is to establish measures for State departments of transportation (State DOT) to use to carry out the National Highway Performance Program (NHPP) and to assess the condition of the following: Pavements on the National Highway System (NHS) (excluding the Interstate System), bridges carrying the NHS which includes on- and off-ramps connected to the NHS, and pavements on the Interstate System. The NHPP is a core Federal-aid highway program that provides support for the condition and performance of the NHS and the construction of new facilities on the NHS. The NHPP also ensures that investments of Federal-aid funds in highway construction are directed to support progress toward the achievement of performance targets established in a State's asset management plan for the NHS. This final rule establishes regulations for the new performance aspects of the NHPP that address measures, targets, and reporting. The FHWA is in the process of creating a new public Web site to help communicate the national performance story. The Web site will likely include infographics, tables, charts, and descriptions of the performance data that State DOTs report to FHWA. The FHWA issues this final rule based on sec. 1203 of MAP-21, which identifies national transportation goals and requires the Secretary to promulgate rules to establish performance measures and standards in specified Federal-aid highway program areas.

The FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by Caltrans, USFWS and USACE, that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project, United States (US) 101/State Route (SR) 84 interchange in the City of Redwood City, along 1.9 miles on US 101 and 0.4 mile on SR 84 in the County of San Mateo, State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The action relates to a the proposed construction of a new highway between Huntley Road and Illinois Route 62 and a new bridge crossing over the Fox River in Kane County. The Federal action, taken as a result of an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact under the National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4351 (NEPA) and 23 CFR part 771 determined certain issues relating to the proposed project. This decision will be used by Federal agencies in subsequent proceedings, including decisions whether to grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the proposed highway project. The decision also may be relied upon by State and local agencies in proceedings on the proposed project.

The FHWA announces the establishment of the Motorcyclist Advisory Council (MAC) for a 2-year period. The MAC will coordinate with and advise the FHWA Administrator on infrastructure issues of concern to motorcyclists, including: (1) Barrier design; (2) road design, construction, and maintenance practices; and (3) the architecture and implementation of intelligent transportation system technologies. The FHWA seeks member nominations for the MAC.

This notice announces three meetings of the Emergency Route Working Group (ERWG). The Federal Advisory Committee Act requires that notice of these meetings be published in the Federal Register.

This notice announces the final environmental action taken by the FHWA that is final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The action relates to a proposed highway project, Franklin Boulevard: I-5 McVay Highway in the City of Springfield, Lane County, Oregon. The final environmental action taken by FHWA grants approval for the project.

This notice provides information regarding FHWA's finding that a Buy America waiver is appropriate for the use of non-domestic iron and steel components of trunnion bearings for emergency repair of Willow Avenue Lift Bridge in Cleveland, Ohio.

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA that are final within the meaning of Section 1308 of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act. The action relates to design refinements to West Approach Bridge South, the Montlake Lid, and other elements of the Montlake Interchange on State Route (SR) 520 in the City of Seattle, King County, State of Washington.

Section 1303 of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) authorizes the use of the Construction Manager/ General Contractor (CM/GC) contracting method. This final rule implements the new provisions in the statute, including requirements for FHWA approvals relating to the CM/GC method of contracting for projects receiving Federal-aid Highway Program funding.

This notice provides information regarding FHWA's finding that a Buy America waiver is appropriate for procurement of two non-domestic Ship-to-Shore Container Gantry Cranes to accommodate Ultra Large Container Vessels at the Port of Newark Container Terminal in the State of New Jersey.

The FHWA and the State of California acting by and through its Department of Transportation (Caltrans), propose an amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) authorizing the State's participation in the 23 U.S.C. 326 program. This program allows FHWA to assign to States its authority and responsibility for determining whether certain designated activities within the geographic boundaries of the State are categorically excluded from preparation of an Environmental Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act. The parties propose to amend the MOU to make the litigation provisions consistent with the 23 U.S.C. 327 program MOU and to allow a 90 day suspension of the program, giving the State an opportunity to renew its waiver of sovereign immunity and acceptance of Federal court jurisdiction. The program will resume upon the State's recertification that the sovereign immunity waiver and acceptance of Federal court jurisdiction is in place.

The Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program allows a State to assume FHWA's environmental responsibilities for review, consultation, and compliance for Federal highway projects. When a State assumes these Federal responsibilities, the State becomes solely responsible and liable for carrying out the responsibilities it has assumed, in lieu of FHWA. Prior to the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act of 2015, the Program required semiannual audits during each of the first 2 years of State participation to ensure compliance by each State participating in the Program. This notice announces and solicits comments on the third audit report for the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) participation in accordance to these pre-FAST Act requirements.

This notice provides information regarding FHWA's finding that a Buy America waiver is appropriate for the use of non-domestic iron and steel components in four rolling elements of bearing units with 17.3'' inner diameter and radial load capacity of 816,000 lb. each for I-5 trunnion shaft replacement project in the State of Oregon.

Section 1422 of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act directs the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to commission the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study on the performance of bridges that received funding under the Innovative Bridge Research and Construction program in meeting the goals of that program. Section 1422 also directs the Administrator of FHWA to provide an opportunity for public comment on the study proposal before commissioning the study. This notice provides the study proposal and the opportunity for public comment.

This document announces meetings four and five of the Tribal Transportation Self-Governance Program (TTSPG) Negotiated Rulemaking Committee. Dates and Addresses: All meetings are scheduled to take place from 8:00 a.m. until 5 p.m. on the following dates and locations:

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to the widening of Interstate 64 for approximately eight miles between the I- 464 Interchange and the I-664/I-264 Interchange in the City of Chesapeake, Virginia. The widening project includes the replacement of the High Rise Bridge over the Elizabeth River. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

This notice announces that FHWA has received and reviewed an application from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) requesting participation in the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program (Program). This Program allows for FHWA to assign, and States to assume, responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), and all or part of FHWA's responsibilities for environmental review, consultation, or other actions required under any Federal environmental law with respect to one or more Federal-aid highway projects within the State. The FHWA has determined that the application is complete, and developed a draft MOU with FDOT outlining how the State would implement the program with FHWA oversight. The FHWA invites the public to comment on FDOT's request, including its application, and the proposed MOU, which includes the proposed assignments and assumptions of environmental review, consultation, and other activities.

The FHWA is issuing this final rule to address three new requirements established by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). First, as part of the National Highway Performance Program (NHPP), MAP-21 adopted a requirement for States to develop and implement risk-based asset management plans for the National Highway System (NHS) to improve or preserve the condition of the assets and the performance of the system. Second, for the purpose of carrying out the NHPP, MAP-21 requires FHWA to establish minimum standards for States to use in developing and operating bridge and pavement management systems. Third, to conserve Federal resources and protect public safety, MAP-21 mandates periodic evaluations to determine if reasonable alternatives exist to roads, highways, or bridges that repeatedly require repair and reconstruction activities. This rule establishes requirements applicable to States in each of these areas. The rule also reflects the passage of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which added provisions on critical infrastructure to the asset management portion of the NHPP statute.

This notice announces actions taken by FWHA that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to the proposed Haines Highway Reconstruction in the Haines Borough in the State of Alaska. Those actions grant approvals for the project.