U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Long Range Transportation Plan for Service-Managed Lands

Sandra Otto
Federal Highway Administration
November 23, 2015

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 225 (Monday, November 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 73037]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-29779]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Long Range Transportation Plan for 
Service-Managed Lands

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 204.

SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration, along with the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a draft 
Service Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) for public review and 
comment. The Draft LRTP outlines a strategy for improving and 
maintaining transportation assets that provide access to Service-
managed lands nationally over the next 20 years. Preparing this 
document helps the Service meet transportation planning requirements 
under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21).

DATES: Please provide your comments by December 23, 2015.

ADDRESSES: See Supplementary Information section for address to obtain 
copies or make comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), DOI: Steve Suder, (703) 358-1752
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT: Roxanne Bash, (360) 619-
7558


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: After nearly three years of collaboration 
and planning, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service developed the 
Service's Long Range Transportation Plan for managed lands, including 
national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries. As the first 
national level, long range transportation planning document (called 
PLAN 2035) for a federal land management agency, completing this plan 
marks a significant achievement for transportation planning in the 
public lands arena.
    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is tasked with managing a 
transportation system that provides mobility and access to sensitive 
habitats and natural resources in rural landscapes, urban areas, 
wetlands, coastal plains, mountain highlands and everything in between.
    With more than 150 million acres, 560 national wildlife refuges, 70 
national fish hatcheries, and 38 wetland management districts, the task 
is daunting in scope alone. PLAN 2035 is our Agency's answer to solving 
challenges through transportation solutions. Safety toolkits, roadway 
design standards, multi-modal access opportunities and a myriad of 
other strategies and practices not only let us connect to and move 
freely about our lands, but also help us improve these legacy resources 
for generations of visitors to come.
    The Service envisions a transportation system of not just roads and 
parking lots, but foot and bicycle paths, transit systems, bridges and 
water trails that lay lightly on the landscape, yet are resilient to 
the consequences of natural disasters. The guidance and strategies 
contained in PLAN 2035 will set the stage for achieving this lofty 
vision while establishing the transportation program as a progressive, 
innovative and integral part of the Service.
    The draft LRTP is available on the following Web site: http://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/flpp/documents/2035-national-lrtp.pdf . 
Submit comments electronically at fwslrtpcomments@fws.gov.
    We also have a limited number of printed and CD-ROM copies of the 
draft plans. You may request a copy or submit written comments at the 
following address: Steve Suder; Attn: FWS National LRTP; US Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS-NWRS, Falls Church, VA 22041
    Next Steps--After this comment period ends, we will analyze the 
comments and address them in the form of final LRTP.
    Public Availability of Comments--Before including your address, 
phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information 
in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--
including your personal identifying information -may be made publicly 
available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold 
your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

    Dated: November 16, 2015.
Sandra Otto,
Division Director, Western Federal Lands Highway Division, FHWA, 
Vancouver, Washington.
[FR Doc. 2015-29779 Filed 11-20-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-36-P