Project Management Plan Guidance

Walter C. Waidelich, Jr.
Federal Highway Administration
22 May 2017

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 97 (Monday, May 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 23485]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10262]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[FHWA Docket No. FHWA-2016-0024]


Project Management Plan Guidance

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces and outlines the purpose and contents of 
Project Management Plans, when they are required, and the preferred 
form and procedure for submission of these Plans to FHWA. The Guidance 
clarifies prior Guidance, including when to prepare plan updates.

DATES: This Guidance is effective on May 22, 2017.

ADDRESSES: To ensure that you do not duplicate your docket submissions, 
please submit all comments by only one of the following means:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., W12-140, Washington, DC 
20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is (202) 366-
9329.
     Instructions: You must include the agency name and docket 
number at the beginning of your comments. All comments received will be 
posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any 
personal information provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this notice 
contact Ms. LaToya Johnson, FHWA Office of Infrastructure, (202) 366-
0479, Federal Highway Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., 
Washington, DC 20590, or via email at latoya.johnson@dot.gov. For legal 
questions, please contact Mr. Jomar Maldonado, FHWA Office of the Chief 
Counsel, (202) 366-1373, Federal Highway Administration, 1200 New 
Jersey Ave. SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001, or via email at 
jomar.maldonado@dot.gov. Business hours for the FHWA are from 8:00 a.m. 
to 4:30 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access and Filing

    A copy of the Project Management Plan Guidance is available for 
download and public inspection under the docket number noted above at 
the Federal eRulemaking portal at: http://www.regulations.gov. You may 
submit or retrieve comments online through the Federal eRulemaking 
portal at: http://www.regulations.gov. The Web site is available 24 
hours each day, 365 days each year. Electronic submission and retrieval 
help and guidelines are available under the help section of the Web 
site.
    An electronic copy of this document may also be downloaded from 
Office of the Federal Register's home page at: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register and the Government Publishing Office's Web page at: 
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/. Late comments will be considered to the 
extent practicable.

Background

    Major projects are defined in 23 U.S.C. 106(h) as projects 
receiving Federal financial assistance with an estimated total cost of 
$500,000,000, or other projects as may be identified by the Secretary. 
Major projects are typically large, complex projects designed to 
address major highway needs and require the investment of significant 
financial resources. The preparation of a Project Management Plan, as 
required by 23 U.S.C. 106(h), ensures successful project delivery and 
the maintenance of public trust, support, and confidence throughout the 
life of the project. The Plans clearly define the responsibilities of 
the agency leadership and management team. Further, such plans document 
the procedures and processes to provide timely information to project 
decisionmakers.
    The Project Management Plan Guidance replaces the existing January 
2009 guidance. Current guidance is over 7 years old and in need of 
clarification. This new guidance is less prescriptive, in light of an 
increased understanding of Project Management Plans by FHWA and Project 
Managers. Further, a recent DOT Office of Inspector General audit 
expressed the need for more clarity in the guidance on when to prepare 
Project Management Plan updates.\1\ Finally, while current guidance 
includes best practices for managing major projects, these practices 
are not included in the new guidance. Rather, best management practices 
will be developed as a separate resource to be shared with project 
sponsors and FHWA staff.
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    \1\ FHWA Met Basic Requirements but can Strengthen Guidance and 
Controls for Financial and Project Management Plans, FHWA, Report 
No. ST-2015-018 (Jan. 2015), available at https://www.oig.dot.gov/library-item/32336.
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    A copy of the Project Management Plan Guidance is available for 
download and public inspection under the docket number noted above at 
the Federal eRulemaking portal at: http://www.regulations.gov.

    Authority:  23 U.S.C. 106(h); 49 CFR 1.85.

    Dated: May 15, 2017.
Walter C. Waidelich, Jr.,
Acting Deputy Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2017-10262 Filed 5-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-22-P