Motorcyclist Advisory Council Publication: Federal Register Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Byline: Nanda Narayanan Srinivasan Date: 25 September 2023 Subjects: American Government , Motorcycles

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 184 (Monday, September 25, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65769-65770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20726]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2023-0048]


Motorcyclist Advisory Council

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of establishment of the Motorcyclist Advisory Council 
(MAC) and solicitation for appointment to the MAC.

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SUMMARY: NHTSA announces the establishment of MAC for a 2-year period. 
The MAC will coordinate with and advise the Secretary of 
Transportation, the NHTSA Administrator and the Federal Highway 
Administration (FHWA) Administrator on transportation issues of concern 
to motorcyclists, including: motorcycle and motorcyclist safety; 
barrier and road design, construction, and maintenance practices; and 
the architecture and implementation of intelligent transportation 
system technologies. NHTSA is also soliciting nominations for 
appointment to the MAC.

DATES: Applications for membership must be received by NHTSA on or 
before 5 p.m. EST, December 15, 2023.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to apply for membership, your application should 
be submitted to:
     Email: MotorcyclistAdvisoryCouncil@dot.gov.
     Mail: Use only overnight mail and send to: U.S. Department 
of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 
Office of Safety Programs, Room W44-308, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC, 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John W. Marshall, Director, Office of 
Safety Programs, Office of Research and Program Development, National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, john.marshall@dot.gov or 202-366-3803. Any Council 
related questions should be sent to the persons listed in this section.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: Section 24111 of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law 
(BIL), also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. 
L. 117-58) (codified at 49 U.S.C. 355) requires the establishment of a 
Motorcyclist Advisory Council (MAC). The Secretary of Transportation is 
required to establish a MAC to advise on transportation safety issues 
of concern to motorcyclists, including:
    (1) Motorcycle and motorcyclist safety
    (2) Barrier and road design, construction, and maintenance 
practices; and
    (3) The architecture and implementation of intelligent 
transportation system technologies.
    Description of Duties: The Council shall:
    a. Provide advice on transportation safety issues of concern to 
motorcyclists consistent with the statutorily specified advising 
duties.
    b. Provide a forum for the development, consideration, and 
communication of information from a

[[Page 65770]]

knowledgeable and independent perspective.
    c. Not later than October 31 of the calendar year following the 
calendar year in which the Council is established, and not less than 
once every 2 years thereafter, submit to the Secretary a report 
containing recommendations of the Council regarding (1) Motorcycle and 
motorcyclist safety; (2) Barrier and road design, construction, and 
maintenance practices; and (3) The architecture and implementation of 
intelligent transportation system technologies.
    Membership: Consistent with the statute, the MAC shall be comprised 
of 13 members appointed by the Secretary of Transportation for a single 
term of up to 2 years. The MAC seeks to have a fairly balanced 
membership with expertise in motorcycle and motorcyclist safety, 
highway engineering, and safety analysis. Specifically, as set by 
statute, the MAC shall be comprised of the following groups: ``(A) 5 
shall be representatives of units of State or local government with 
expertise relating to highway engineering and safety issues, 
including--(i) motorcycle and motorcyclist safety; (ii) barrier and 
road design, construction, and maintenance; or (iii) intelligent 
transportation systems; (B) 1 shall be a motorcyclist who serves as a 
State or local--(i) traffic and safety engineer; (ii) design engineer; 
or (iii) other transportation department official; (C) 1 shall be a 
representative of a national association of State transportation 
officials; (D) 1 shall be a representative of a national motorcyclist 
association; (E) 1 shall be a representative of a national motorcyclist 
foundation; (F) 1 shall be a representative of a national motorcycle 
manufacturing association; (G) 1 shall be a representative of a 
motorcycle manufacturing company headquartered in the United States; 
(H) 1 shall be a roadway safety data expert with expertise relating to 
crash testing and analysis; and (I) 1 shall be a member of a national 
safety organization that represents the traffic safety systems 
industry.'' 49 U.S.C. 355(b)(1).
    Members serve on the basis of selection by the Secretary for 2 
years. If a successor is not appointed for a member of the Council 
before the expiration of the term of service of the member, the member 
may serve on the Council for a second term of no longer than 2 years. 
The Secretary may extend appointments and may appoint replacements for 
members who have resigned outside of a stated term, as necessary. 
Members may continue to serve until their replacements have been 
appointed. If a member of the Council resigns before the expiration of 
the 2-year term of service of the member--``(i) the Secretary may 
appoint a replacement for the member, who shall serve the remaining 
portion of the term; and (ii) the resigning member may continue to 
serve after resignation until the date on which a successor is 
appointed.'' Id. section 355(b)(2). A vacancy on the Council shall be 
filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
    MAC members will not receive pay or other compensation from NHTSA 
for their MAC service, but are entitled to reimbursement for their 
travel expenses, including per diem. The MAC shall meet approximately 
twice a Federal fiscal year. Members appointed solely for their 
expertise will serve as special Government employees and relevant 
ethics laws will apply.
    Qualifications: Members will be selected based on their expertise, 
training, and experience and their ability to represent one of the 
identified groups.
    Materials To Submit: Individuals interested in serving on the MAC 
are invited to apply for appointment by submitting a resume or 
curriculum vitae. Individuals also may submit letters of recommendation 
that highlight their qualifications as to expertise, training, or 
experience or their ability to represent one of the identified groups. 
Application materials must be submitted to one of the locations listed 
in the ADDRESSES section by the deadline listed in the DATES section. 
Please include your full legal name and date of birth in your 
application. Each applicant must identify the category that he or she 
seeks to represent. Members will be selected on the basis of materials 
submitted and in a manner that ensures equal opportunity for all people 
consistent with all Federal anti-discrimination laws that prohibit 
discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender 
identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age. 
Moreover, selection will be undertaken in a manner that encourages 
participation by members of underrepresented and underserved 
communities.
    Authority: 49 CFR 1.95 and 501.8.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
Nanda Narayanan Srinivasan,
Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development.
[FR Doc. 2023-20726 Filed 9-22-23; 8:45 am]
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