[Federal Register: June 2, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 106)]
[Notices]
[Page 31540-31541]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02jn08-130]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
[FTA Docket No. FTA-2008-0026]
Notice of Request for the Extension of Currently Approved
Information Collections
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the intention of the Federal Transit Administration
(FTA) to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend
the following currently approved information collection: 49 U.S.C.
section 53 14(a) United We Ride State Coordination Grants.
DATES: Comments must be submitted before August 1, 2008.
ADDRESSES: To ensure that your comments are not entered more than once
into the docket, submit comments identified by the docket number by
only one of the following methods:
1. Web site: http://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 http://www.regulations.gov. Commenters should follow the directions
below for mailed and hand-delivered comments.
2. Fax: 202-366-7951.
3. Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue,
SE., Docket Operations, M-30, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-
140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
4. Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Docket Operations, M-30, West Building, Ground
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001 between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.
Instructions: You must include the agency name and docket number
for this notice at the beginning of your comments. Submit two copies of
your comments if you submit them by mail. 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
posted and will be available to Internet users, without change, to
http://www.regulations.gov. You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act
Statement in the Federal Register published April 11, 2000 (65 FR
19477), or you may visit http://www.regulations.gov. Docket: For access
to the docket to read background documents and comments received, go to
http://www.regulations.gov at any time. Background documents and
comments received may also be viewed at the U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Docket Operations, M-30,
West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal
holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Doug Birnie, Office of Program
Management, (202) 366-1666, or e-mail: Doug.Birnie@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested parties are invited to send
comments regarding any aspect of these information collections,
including: (1) The necessity and utility of the information collection
for the proper performance of the functions of the FTA; (2) the
accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways to
minimize the collection burden without reducing the quality of the
collected information. Comments submitted in response to this notice
will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of
this information collection.
Title: 49 U.S.C. Section 53 14(a) United We Ride State Coordination
Grants (OMB Number: 2132-0562).
Background: The Federal Interagency Transportation Council on
Access and Mobility, comprised of 11 federal departments and agencies,
launched United We Ride (UWR) to enhance the coordination of human
service transportation. UWR intends to break down the barriers between
programs and set the stage for local and state partnerships that
generate common-sense solutions and deliver A-plus performance for
those individuals who depend on transportation services to participate
fully in community life. The UWR initiatives include: (1) Promotion of
coordinated local transportation planning among federally-assisted
programs funding transportation, (2) removal of federal barriers to
coordination of transportation services, (3) United We Ride state and
local leadership awards, (4) State United We Ride Coordination Grants,
(5) National Mobility Services for All Americans Demonstration Program
creating one call transportation call centers for
[[Page 31541]]
consumers and (6) Help Along the Way technical assistance coordinated
by the National Resource Center on Human Service Transportation
Coordination.
Congress and the Executive Branch are interested in ensuring that
various human service transportation activities funded by various
federal programs are better coordinated. The General Accounting Office
(GAO) issued a report on ``Transportation Disadvantaged Populations''
(June 2003) that identified 62 different federal programs across eight
federal agencies that provide funding that may be used to support
community transportation services.
The report points out that there are multiple public and private
agencies that provide human service transportation in any one community
and services vary greatly in terms of eligibility requirements, hours
or scope of operation, specific destinations and quality.
Given the multiplicity of programs and the significant dollar
amounts spent, more effective coordination is needed to ensure better
service to more people. This is especially true when federal, state and
local budgets for human service activities are under extreme financial
pressure.
As also indicated by GAO, many objectives have been achieved;
however, the fragmentation and lack of coordination within supporting
agencies continue to be a challenge.
On February 24, 2004, President Bush signed an Executive Order
13330 on Human Service Transportation Coordination establishing the
Federal Interagency Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility and
requiring attention to the obstacles outlined by GAO.
The United We Ride initiative includes a State Coordination Grant
that provides support to help states provide leadership and assistance
to localities to develop more coordinated and improved human service
transportation delivery systems in accordance with the objectives set
forth by the President in Executive Order 13330.
Respondents: State and local government, business or other for-
profit institutions, and nonprofit institutions.
Estimated Annual Burden on Respondents: 40 hours for each of the 50
respondents.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 2,000 hours.
Frequency: Annual.
Issued: May 19, 2008.
Ann M. Linnertz,
Associate Administrator for Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-11705 Filed 5-30-08; 8:45 am]
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