Transportation Industry

New Radionavigation Plan focuses on GPS as primary means of navigation - Management and Administration

Public Roads, May-June, 2002

On March 26, 2002, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta and U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld announced the release of the 2001 Federal Radionavigation Plan, which continues to strengthen the U.S. commitment to and modernization of the Global Positioning System (GPS) as a primary navigation tool for supporting the Nation's transportation infrastructure.

The 2001 plan is a joint product of the Departments of Transportation and Defense mandated by the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 1998. According to the NDAA, requirements to revise and update the plan must be performed at least every two years. The 2001 plan includes scheduling revisions for phasing down most land-based radionavigation systems to allow more time for transitioning to the GPS. In following the policy stated in the 1999 plan, DOT will continue to operate Loran-C in the short term while the administration continues to evaluate the long-term need for the system. Upon completing studies on Loran-C in 2002, DOT will make a decision on the system.

Beginning with the 2001 edition of the plan, Federal radionavigation information will be published in two separate documents instead of one: the "2001 Federal Radionavigation Plan" and a companion document, "Federal Radionavigation Systems." The 2001 plan includes an introduction, policies, operating plans, system selection considerations, and research and development sections. The plan will facilitate more efficient and responsive updates of policy and planning information. Sections relating to government roles and responsibilities, user requirements, and systems descriptions were moved to the companion document and will be updated when needed.

For a free copy of the 2001 plan and companion document on CD-ROM, call 617-494-2908, or write to Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA 02142. The 2001 plan also is available online at www.navcen.uscggov/pubs/frp2001.>