[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 106 (Friday, June 2, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 28827]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-13518]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary


Solicitation of Public Comment on Proposed Western Hemisphere 
Transportation Initiative; Notice of Meeting

SUMMARY: The Office of International Transportation and Trade, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, invites comments on a proposed Western 
Hemisphere Transportation Initiative. The public is invited to a 
meeting on June 20, 1995, at the Transportation Department, 400 7th 
Street, SW, Washington, DC, in Room 2230, to discuss concerns and key 
issues regarding transportation in the Western Hemisphere for use in 
developing the agenda for a conference of transport ministers from the 
region.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Transportation organized a 
Conference on Transportation in the Americas in October 1994 as a 
precursor to the Summit of the Americas in December. Transport 
ministers from twelve countries met to discuss the critical 
transportation issues that confront each country in the region and the 
hemisphere as a whole. The conference was designed to serve as a 
platform from which to launch additional cooperative efforts to build 
an efficient and integrated transportation network throughout the 
hemisphere.
    The ministers' discussions touched on a wide range of key 
transportation issues, including ways to improve planning and financing 
of critical transportation projects; economic regulation of transport 
operations and facilitation of transportation and trade procedures; 
developing and deploying new technologies to improve the efficiency and 
environmental friendliness of transport systems; and, harmonizing 
construction, safety, and operating regulations.
    The Summit of the Americas specifically endorsed future cooperation 
among transport ministers throughout the region. Recognizing the 
critical role that transportation plays in a nation's trade, tourism, 
and economic and social development, the Department of Transportation 
proposes to cooperate with all the countries in the hemisphere to 
launch a hemispheric transportation initiative. The initiative should 
promote sustainable and environmentally sound transport infrastructure 
development, encourage open investment and operating regimes, ensure 
that technologies are shared so that every nation will benefit from 
improvements in the efficiency and harmonization of transportation 
systems and services, and it should provide for the development of 
common approaches to problems in transport systems.
    The Department of Transportation would like to solicit the 
transportation industry's (service providers and users, equipment 
manufacturers, construction and engineering firms, and labor) thoughts 
and ideas to assist in identifying key issues and areas for cooperation 
among the countries of the Western Hemisphere. The Department is 
interested in hearing what, in the industry's experience, are the areas 
that could benefit from the focused attention of the hemisphere's 
transport ministers. For those who wish to comment but cannot attend 
the meeting, written comments may be submitted to the individuals named 
below. The fax number for the Office of International Transportation 
and Trade is (202) 366-7417. To advise of attendance and for further 
information contact LeeAnn Moore, International Transportation 
Specialist, at (202) 366-1219.

    Dated: May 26, 1995.
Bernestine Allen,
Chief, International Cooperation and Trade Division, Office of 
International Transportation and Trade, U.S. Department of 
Transportation.
[FR Doc. 95-13518 Filed 6-1-95; 8:45 am]
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