Action
Notice of designation of high-speed corridors; solicitation of applications for: (1) the designation of additional high-speed corridors, and (2) for Fiscal Year (FY) 1999 funding assistance.
Summary
Section 1103(c) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) (Pub. L. 105-178, 112 Stat. 107) modifies the program established in 23 U.S.C. 104(d)(2) to eliminate highway-railroad grade crossing hazards in designated high-speed rail corridors. The program funding out of the Highway Trust Fund would be increased from $5 million a year to $5.25 million a year for FYs 1998-2003; eligible corridors are increased from 5 to 11 with the addition of the Gulf Coast, Keystone and Empire State Corridors and the addition of up to 3 corridors to be selected by the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary); not less than $250,000 of available funding is for the Minneapolis/St. Paul-Chicago segment of the Midwest Corridor; and a general fund authorization of $15 million per year for FYs 1999-2003 is provided for the same purpose, namely elimination of highway-railroad grade crossing hazards in designated high-speed rail corridors. (Funding of the general fund authorization is subject to the appropriations process; no such appropriations have been made for FY 1999.) In this notice, the FRA is soliciting applications from States for designation of up to three new corridors, and applications from States for FY 1999 funding under this program in all designated corridors. The FRA is actively coordinating with the FHWA, which is also substantively involved in this program and in all decisions pertaining to it.