The U.S. Department of Transportation published a notice in the Federal Register Tuesday seeking public comments on how the Non-Traditional and Emerging Transportation (NETT) Council can be responsive to the needs of the public and industry.
NETT was established earlier this year as a body within the department. It is tasked with identifying and resolving jurisdictional and regulatory gaps regarding pending projects. This includes funding issues, environmental review, and safety oversight.
“The NETT council was established to provide a common portal to the Department’s decentralized modes to better engage with new technologies which are cross-modal; the Department is seeking input on how to make the NETT council work more effectively to prepare for the transportation system of the future,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao said.
Stakeholders and innovators have approached the department with ideas and concepts in various stages of development.
The department is seeking public comment on projects, issues, or topics it should consider through the NETT Council. This includes alternative approaches for nontraditional and emerging transportation technologies and regulatory models.
Comments also are sought on what extent the department’s existing regulatory system supports or hinders innovation and how the council can better be positioned to support transportation innovation.
Comments close Jan. 10.