[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 188 (Friday, September 28, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55627-55628]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-19113]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
[Docket No. FTA-2007-29126]
Program Guidance for Metropolitan Planning Program and State
Planning and Research Program Grants (49 U.S.C. 5305): Notice of
Program Guidance
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Availability of proposed program guidance and request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: This notice proposes guidance in the form of a revised program
circular for the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) planning
programs. The proposed circular revises and combines into one document
the contents of existing Circulars 8100.1B for the Metropolitan
Planning Program (MPP) and 8200.1 the Statewide Planning and Research
Program (SPRP). The proposed circular also provides information on the
Consolidated Planning Grant Program between the FTA and the Federal
Highway Administration (FHWA).
DATES: Comments should be submitted by October 29, 2007. Late-filed
comments will be considered to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: To ensure your comments are not entered more than once into
the docket, submit comments identified by the docket number [FTA-2007-
29126] by only one of the following methods:
1. Web site: www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for
submitting comments on the U.S. Government electronic docket site.
[NOTE: The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT's) electronic
docket is no longer accepting electronic comments. All electronic
submissions must be made to the U.S. Government electronic docket site
at www.regulations.gov. Commenters should follow the directions below
for mailed and hand-delivered comments.]
2. Fax: 202-493-2251.
3. Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., W12-140, Washington, DC
20590-0001.
4. Hand Delivery: To the Docket Management System; U.S. Department
of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Washington, DC 20590, between
9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for detailed instructions on
how to submit comments and access docket information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Victor Austin, Office of Planning and
Environment (TPE), Federal Transit Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Ave., SE., Washington, DC 20590, phone: 202-366-2996, or e-mail,
[email protected]. Legal questions may be addressed to Christopher
Van Wyk, Office of Chief Counsel (TCC), Federal Transit Administration,
U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE.,
Washington, DC 20590, phone: 202-366-1733, or e-mail
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comment Instructions and Docket Access Information
Instructions: You must include the agency name (Federal Transit
Administration) and Docket number (FTA-2007-29126) for this notice at
the beginning of your comments. Submit two copies of your comments if
you submit them by mail. Due to security procedures in effect since
October 2001 regarding mail deliveries, mail received through the U.S.
Postal Service may be subject to delays. Parties making submissions
responsive to this notice should consider using an express mail firm to
ensure the prompt filing of any submissions not filed electronically or
by hand. For confirmation that FTA has received your comments, include
a self-addressed stamped postcard. Note that all comments received,
including any personal information, will be available to Internet users
and will be posted without change to www.regulations.gov. You may
review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register (65
FR 19477, April 11, 2000).
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents and
comments received, go to www.regulations.gov at any time or to the U.S.
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington,
DC 20590 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
This proposed circular revises existing Circular 8100.1B, ``Program
Guidance and Application Instructions for Metropolitan Planning Program
Grants,'' dated October 25, 1996. FTA proposes to revoke Circular
8200.1, ``Program Guidance and Application Instructions for State
Planning and Research Program Grants,'' dated December 27, 2001, and
place the updated content from this document, along with the updated
content from the Metropolitan Planning Program (MPP), into the revised
Proposed Circular 8100.1C, which will be renamed as ``Program Guidance
for Metropolitan Planning and State Planning and Research Program
Grants.''
Table of Contents
I. Overview
II. Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis
A. Chapter I--Introduction and Background
B. Chapter II--Metropolitan Planning Program
C. Chapter III--State Planning and Research Program
D. Chapter IV--Consolidated Planning Grants (CPG)
E. Chapter V--Application Instructions
F. Appendices
I. Overview
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity
Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) (Pub. L. 109-59, August 10, 2005)
updated Chapter 53 of Title 49 of the United States Code incorporating
new requirements for metropolitan and statewide transportation planning
(49 U.S.C. 5303 and 5304). On February 14, 2007, FTA and the Federal
Highway Administration (FHWA) published a Federal Register notice
announcing a final rule, ``Statewide Transportation Planning;
Metropolitan Transportation Planning,'' (72 FR 7224, February 14, 2007)
which updated 23 CFR parts 450 and 500 and 49 CFR part 613 to include
new provisions required by SAFETEA-LU.
Over the past two years, FTA and FHWA worked cooperatively to
prepare a new joint regulation on Metropolitan Transportation Planning
and Statewide Transportation Planning which governs the work performed
under the Metropolitan Planning Program (MPP) at 23 CFR part 450 and
the State Planning and Research Program (SPRP) at 23 CFR part 420
(adopted by FTA at 49 CFR part 613). The final rule was published in
the Federal Register February 14, 2007, and provides the procedural
basis for fully implementing the planning provisions set forth in
legislation and makes the Metropolitan Transportation Planning and
Statewide Transportation Planning regulations
[[Page 55628]]
consistent with current statutory requirements.
The rulemaking process included extensive public outreach conducted
jointly by FTA and FHWA. This involved preparation of a Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking and a 90-day comment period during which 1600
individual comments were received. This outreach was supported by six
public outreach sessions, two national telecasts on the Internet, and a
series of ``tag-on'' informational sessions with various transportation
stakeholder association events, including the Association of State
Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), American Public
Transportation Association (APTA), the National Association of Regional
Councils (NARC), the Association of MPO's (AMPO), and State DOTs.
While SAFETEA-LU made a number of changes to the requirements for
metropolitan and statewide transportation planning, the legislation did
not make substantive changes to the eligibility and grant-award aspects
of the Metropolitan Planning Program (MPP). SAFETEA-LU did change the
funding eligibility of the State Planning and Research Program (SPRP)
to include only funds from Sections 5304, 5306, 5315, and 5322.
Therefore funding activities under Sections 5312 and 5317, allowable
under the previous legislation for SPRP, are no longer eligible
activities.
Another notable change that SAFETEA-LU made to the MPP and SPRP was
unifying both programs under the same chapter, 49 U.S.C. 5305. Before
SAFETEA-LU, program eligibility and criteria for the MPP could be found
in 49 U.S.C. 5303(g) while program eligibility and criteria for the
SPRP was found in 49 U.S.C. 5313(b). Additionally, SAFETEA-LU
restricted the use of planning funds, under both the MPP and SPRP, to
the States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico and places
responsibilities for such funds to these entities.
The proposed circular adds information on the Consolidated Planning
Grants (CPG) Program, a program administered by FTA and FHWA. This
program allows FTA and FHWA metropolitan and statewide planning funds
to be combined into a single consolidated grant. This program fosters a
cooperative effort between the Federal agencies and the participating
States to streamline the delivery of their planning programs providing
the flexibility to transfer the planning funds to either FTA or FHWA
for processing. Under CPGs, only one Federal agency, either FTA or
FHWA, will administer grants.
FTA reserves the right to make changes to this circular in the
future to update references to requirements contained in other revised
or new guidance and regulations without further notice and comment on
this circular.
II. Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis
A. Chapter I--Introduction and Background
This introductory chapter is a general introduction to FTA that is
proposed to be included in all the new and revised program circulars
for the orientation of readers new to FTA programs. Chapter I also
includes definitions and a history of FTA's planning programs.
B. Chapter II--Metropolitan Planning Program
This chapter replaces the former Chapter II, ``Eligibility,'' in
Circular 8100.1B and consolidates Chapter I ``General Overview,''
Chapter II ``Eligibility,'' Chapter III ``Metropolitan Planning and
Assistance: Formula and Notification,'' Chapter IV ``Unified Planning
Work Program,'' Chapter V ``Application Instructions,'' Chapter VII
``Grant Agreement,'' and Chapter VIII ``State Management'' of the
existing Circular 8100.1B, with minor updates. This chapter provides an
overview of the entire MPP in terms of its statutory authority and
program goals. It defines the role of FTA and the individual States,
explains the program's relationship to other FTA-funded programs,
provides information on eligible planning activities, and offers
detailed required steps for preparing a Unified Planning Work Program
(UPWP).
C. Chapter III--Statewide Planning and Research Program
This chapter replaces the former Chapter III, ``Metropolitan
Planning and Assistance: Formula and Notification,'' in Circular
8100.1B. This chapter consists of information found in Chapter II
``State Planning and Research: Formula and Notification,'' Chapter IV
``State Planning,'' Chapter VI ``Training Activities,'' and Chapter
VIII ``Human Resource Activities'' of existing Circular 8200.1, with
minor updates. It provides an overview of the SPRP in terms of its
statutory authority and program goals. It defines the role of FTA and
the individual States, and explains the program's relationship to other
FTA-funded programs, as well as its coordination with other Federal
programs.
D. Chapter IV--Consolidated Planning Grants (CPG)
This chapter replaces the former Chapter IV, ``Unified Planning
Work Program,'' in Circular 8100.1B. This chapter provides information
on the Consolidated Planning Grant (CPG) Program.
E. Chapter V--Application Instructions
This chapter updates Chapter V, ``Application Instructions,'' and
Chapter VI, ``Certifications and Assurances,'' in Circular 8100.1B and
merges them into one chapter. While providing minor updates to
information on the MPP, this chapter also incorporates relevant
information, with minor updates, from Chapter III ``Application
Instructions,'' of existing Circular 8200.1. This section details the
application process for both MPP and SPRP grants. This section also
discusses the certifications and assurances and its location within
FTA's Transportation Electronic Award and Management (TEAM) system, a
streamlined electronic interface among grant applicants, recipients,
and FTA that allows complete electronic grant application submission,
review, approval, and management of all grants.
F. Appendices
Appendices A-C of Circular 8100.1B have been relabeled and
reorganized. FTA is also adding an index of common terms used
throughout the circular following Appendix C. The new Appendix A
contains an outline of a Unified Planning Work Program document and
replaces the former Definitions section which has been moved to Chapter
I. Appendix B is a revised ``MPP Sample Project Budget'' that was found
in Appendix B of Circular 8100.1B, as well as a revised ``SPRP Sample
Project Budget,'' that was formerly located in Appendix B of Circular
8200.1. Appendix C contains references to other documents relevant to
the planning programs.
Issued in Washington, DC, this 24th day of September, 2007.
James S. Simpson,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E7-19113 Filed 9-27-07; 8:45 am]
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