[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 248 (Thursday, December 30, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74429-74430]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-28283]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Docket No.: DOT-OST-2021-0160]


Transportation Research and Development Strategic Plan; Request 
for Information

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology 
(OST-R), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Request for Information (RFI).

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SUMMARY: The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and 
Technology (OST-R) invites the public to provide comments to inform the 
development of DOT's Research, Development, and Technology (RD&T) 
Strategic Plan for fiscal years (FY) 2022-2026. We welcome the views of 
the transportation research community on USDOT's research vision, 
strategic goals, and priorities, and how our research programs can 
advance the transportation system of the present and future. Please 
help us shape our research plans at this pivotal moment in the 
transformation of the nation's transportation system.

DATES: Comments are due by January 31, 2022. DOT will consider comments 
filed after this date to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted by email or U.S. mail. 
Respondents are encouraged to submit comments electronically to ensure 
timely receipt. Please include your name, title, organization, postal 
address, telephone number, and email address.
     Electronic Submission: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. 
Search by using the docket number (provided above). Follow the 
instructions for sending comments.
     Email: [email protected]. Include the docket number in the 
subject line of the message. Please include the full body of your 
comments in the text of the electronic message and as an attachment.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200

[[Page 74430]]

New Jersey Avenue SE, Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name 
and docket numbers.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Jordan Katz, Community Planner, U.S. 
DOT Volpe Center, Telephone (617) 494-3783 or email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 49 U.S.C. Section 6503 requires that the 
Secretary of Transportation develop a 5-year transportation research 
and development strategic plan to guide future Federal transportation 
research and development activities. The statute states that the 
strategic plan shall describe how the plan furthers the primary purpose 
of the transportation research and development program.
    49 U.S.C. Chapter 65 outlines the following primary purposes of 
transportation research:
     Promoting safety
     Improving mobility of people and goods
     Reducing congestion
     Improving the durability and extending the life of 
transportation infrastructure
     Preserving the existing transportation system
     Preserving the environment
     Reducing transportation cybersecurity risks
    DOT is in the process of updating its strategic plan for FY 2022-
2026 and released a Draft Strategic Framework in December 2021, which 
outlined the following six draft DOT Strategic Goals:
     Safety
     Economic strength and global competitiveness
     Equity
     Climate and sustainability
     Transformation
     Organizational excellence
    The Draft Strategic Framework can be accessed at https://www.transportation.gov/dot-strategic-plan.
    In order to align its research strategy and programs with the 
Department's goals, DOT is developing a new Research, Development, and 
Technology (RD&T) Strategic Plan for FY2022-2026.
    OST-R invites the public to provide comments to inform the 
development of the 5-year strategic plan for transportation RD&T. 
Comments should regard appropriate RD&T activities to meet the purposes 
and considerations listed above and/or emerging RD&T challenges, 
opportunities, and priorities that DOT RD&T should address over the 
next five years. In particular, comments may respond to any or all of 
the following questions:
    1. How should DOT prioritize and invest in research activities over 
the next five years? Over the next 30 years?
    2. What types of research activities should DOT undertake to meet 
its strategic goals?
    3. What key social, demographic, economic, technological, and/or 
other trends influence transportation today and into the future?
    4. What emerging challenges or opportunities or knowledge gaps in 
transportation warrant additional Federal RD&T activities or 
investments?
    5. How can DOT best lead and coordinate its RD&T activities with 
Federal, State, local, tribal, private sector, non-profit institutions, 
and international partners?
    6. What activities should DOT adopt to facilitate deployment of DOT 
research results into the U.S. transportation system?
    7. Is there anything else you want to share or say regarding DOT's 
research portfolio and activities?

    Issued on December 23, 2021.
Jordan Wainer Katz,
Community Planner.
[FR Doc. 2021-28283 Filed 12-29-21; 8:45 am]
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