Action
Notice and solicitation of proposals.
Summary
This Notice announces establishment of a new urban magnetic levitation transit technology development program (``Urban Maglev Program'') in the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), describes the statutory bases of the program, solicits proposals from eligible entities, and solicits comments on the overall program design. Sections 1218 and 3015(c) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (``TEA-21''), signed into law by President Clinton on June 9, 1998, create two new sections in Titles 23 and 49 of the United States Code (322 and 3015, respectively) authorizing the FTA to support further development of magnetic levitation technologies for potential application in the U.S. mass transit industry. Section 1218 authorizes a total of $5 million dollars over the six year life of TEA-21 to research and develop low speed superconductive Maglev technology. Subsection 3015(c) authorizes $5 million per year for the 6 years to carry out a broad Maglev technology development program. [Note that TEA-21 also adds provisions in 23 U.S.C. Section 1218 for a high speed Maglev program, which is being managed by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).]