Federal Highway Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FHWA, on behalf of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is issuing this notice to advise the public that the Notice of Intent (NOI) published on October 11, 2016 (Page: 70247-70248 (2 pages), Document Number: 2016-24480) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed highway project on Interstate 605 in Los Angeles County is being rescinded.

The FHWA is proposing two nationwide waivers from the Buy America requirements for COTS products with steel or iron components and steel tie wire permanently incorporated into precast concrete products. Specialty steel or iron items, or any steel or iron item that is built to contract specification for a Federal-aid project, would remain subject to FHWA's Buy America requirements. The FHWA is requesting comments on these two proposed nationwide waivers, including the impact this proposal would have on State and local agencies administering Federal-aid projects; contractors; materials suppliers; railroads and utilities performing work related to a Federal-aid highway construction contract; and manufacturers.

The FHWA, on behalf of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), is issuing this notice to advise the public that a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for proposed highway improvements on Interstate 605 (I-605) and State Route 60 (SR-60). The limits of the Interstate 605 (I-605) and State Route 60 (SR-60) Improvement Project (Project) will traverse the cities of Baldwin Park, El Monte, City of Industry, Pico Rivera, South El Monte, Whittier, and unincorporated Los Angeles County. Improvements on I-605 are proposed from south of Slauson Avenue to the I-605/Interstate 10 (I-10) Interchange, and improvements on SR-60 are proposed from Santa Anita Avenue to east of Turnbull Canyon Road. A Project Study Report- Project Development Study (PSR-PDS) for the Project was approved in December 2015 (not attached).

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that FHWA is rescinding its Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for transportation improvements within the Connecticut Route 82/85/11 corridor in the towns of Salem, Montville, Waterford, and East Lyme, Connecticut.

This action revises the Federal implementing regulations for the Section 154 (Open Container) and Section 164 (Repeat Intoxicated Driver) programs as a result of enactment of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. It incorporates the new compliance criteria for the Section 164 program and updates the regulations to reflect current practice. This document is being issued as an interim final rule to ensure that States receive instructions that are important to upcoming compliance determinations to be made on October 1, 2016. The agencies request comments on this rule. The agencies will publish a document responding to any comments received and, if appropriate, will amend provisions of the regulations.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an environmental impact statement will be prepared for a proposed highway project in Hartford County, Connecticut.

A Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement was published in the Federal Register on May 9, 2012. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is issuing this notice to advise the public that ODOT will no longer prepare a Tier 2 EIS for proposed improvements to SR 32 from US 50 in Hamilton County east to IR 275 in Clermont County, because of potential significant environmental impacts and public controversy.

This notice announces actions taken by FHWA and other Federal agencies that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to the proposed Interstate 495 (Long Island Expressway) Rest Area Upgrade Project between Exits 51 & 52 (eastbound) in the Town of Huntington, Suffolk County, New York (NYSDOT Project Identification Number: 0229.14). Those actions rescind the Record of Decision (ROD) and the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) dated May 21, 2007. The ROD was signed by FHWA on August 6, 2007.

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 electric vehicle DC fast charging stations with maximum power (50 kw), voltage range (200-500 VDC), and current output (165 ADC) in the State of Massachusetts.

This document announces the second meeting of the Tribal Transportation Self-Governance Program (TTSGP) Negotiated Rulemaking Committee. This notice also announces additional alternate committee members.

The FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by Caltrans, NMFS, and USFWS that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed Local Agency (off-highway) project funded under the Highway Bridge Program (HBP), that proposes a bridge replacement located along Davis Road between Blanco Road to Reservation Road, in the County of Monterey, State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

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, State Route 1 Gleason Beach Roadway Realignment Project, District 04-SON-1 p.m. 15.1/15.7 located between Bodega Bay and Jenner in the County of Sonoma, State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

This notice announces a funding opportunity and requests grant applications from eligible entities as FHWA continues the Accelerated Innovation Deployment (AID) Demonstration authorized within the Technology and Innovation Deployment Program (TIDP) under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. The AID Demonstration provides incentive funding for activities eligible for assistance in any phase of a highway transportation project between project planning and project delivery including: Planning, financing, operation, structures, materials, pavements, environment, and construction that address the TIDP goals. The FHWA expects approximately $10 million to be made available for AID Demonstration in each of Fiscal Years (FY) 2016 through 2020 from amounts authorized under section 6002 of the FAST Act.

The Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act builds on the authorities and requirements in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) and the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). The FAST Act also builds on efforts under FHWA's Every Day Counts to accelerate delivery of surface transportation projects by institutionalizing best practices and expediting complex infrastructure projects. The Secretary, in cooperation with the States, must submit recommendations to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate recommendations on legislation to permit the assumption of additional authorities by States. The FAST Act specifically asks for recommendations in the areas of real estate acquisition and project design. In order to implement section 1316 of the FAST Act, FHWA is soliciting feedback from States and other stakeholders on additional authorities to assume under title 23, including real estate acquisition and project design. The FHWA will collect suggestions during a 60-day period. At the end of that period, FHWA will assess suggestions prior to providing a Report to Congress.

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA and other Federal agencies that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project, I-55 from I-355 to I-90/94 in Will, DuPage and Cook Counties, Illinois. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

FHWA announces the establishment of the Emergency Route Working Group (ERWG) for a 2-year period. The ERWG will provide the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, through the Administrator of the FHWA, with advice and recommendations for the implementation of best practices for expeditious State approval of special permits for vehicles involved in emergency response and recovery. The ERWG will provide the U.S. Secretary of Transportation a written report by December 4, 2016, on its findings and recommendation for the implementation of best practices for expeditious State approval of special permits for vehicles involved in emergency response and recovery. The ERWG's advice and recommendations will work within existing legal authorities and not require changes in State or Federal law for DOT to implement.

FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for proposed transportation improvements in Cache County, Utah.

The Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program (23 U.S.C. 327) allows a State to assume FHWA's environmental responsibilities for review, consultation, and compliance for Federal-aid 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 presents the findings of the second 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 obligation of Federal-aid funds for 49 State projects involving the acquisition of vehicles and equipment on the condition that they be assembled in the U.S.

The FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by Caltrans that are final. The actions relate to the proposed interchange improvement project on Interstate 405 (I- 405) from Western Avenue to W. 182nd Street in the City of Torrance within the County of Los Angeles, State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

Section 1413 of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act requires the Secretary of Transportation to designate national electric vehicle (EV) charging, hydrogen, propane, and natural gas fueling corridors. The FHWA is issuing this Federal Register Notice to invite nominations from State and local officials to assist in making such designations.

This notice announces a funding opportunity and requests grant applications for FHWA's Tribal Transportation Program Safety Funds (TTPSF). In addition, this notice identifies selection criteria, application requirements, and technical assistance during the grant solicitation period for the TTPSF. The TTPSF is authorized within the Tribal Transportation Program (TTP) under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. The FHWA will distribute these funds as described in this notice on a competitive basis in a manner consistent with the selection criteria.

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 Interstate 66 Outside the Beltway project in Fairfax and Prince William Counties, Virginia. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

The FHWA and FTA propose revisions to the transportation planning regulations to promote more effective regional planning by States and metropolitan planning organizations (MPO). The goal of the proposed revisions is to result in unified planning products for each urbanized area (UZA), even if there are multiple MPOs designated within that urbanized area. Specifically it would result in MPOs developing a single metropolitan transportation plan, a single transportation improvement program (TIP), and a jointly established set of performance targets for the entire urbanized area and contiguous area expected to become urbanized within a 20-year forecast period for the transportation plan. If multiple MPOs are designated within that urbanized area, they would jointly prepare these unified planning products. To accomplish this, the proposed revisions clarify that the metropolitan planning area must include the entire urbanized area and contiguous area expected to become urbanized within 20 years. These proposed revisions would better align the planning regulations with statutory provisions concerning the establishment of metropolitan planning area (MPA) boundaries and the designation of MPOs. This includes the statutory requirement for the MPA to include an urbanized area in its entirety, and the exception provision to allow more than one MPO to serve a single MPA if warranted by the size and complexity of the MPA. The rulemaking would establish clearer operating procedures, and reinstate certain coordination and decisionmaking requirements for situations where there is more than one MPO serving an MPA. The proposed rule includes a requirement for unified planning products for the MPA including jointly established performance targets within an MPA, and a single metropolitan transportation plan and TIP for the entire MPA in order to result in planning products that reflect the regional needs of the entire urbanized area. These unified planning products would be jointly developed by the multiple MPOs in such MPAs where more than one MPO is designated. The FHWA and FTA propose to phase in implementation of these proposed coordination requirements and the proposed requirements for MPA boundary and MPO boundaries agreements over 2 years.

This notice provides information regarding FHWA's finding that a Buy America waiver is appropriate for the use of non-domestic Voith 21/R5 propulsion units compatible with domestic Caterpillar engine 3512C/1600 rpm in the State of Virginia.