[Federal Register: April 27, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 79)]
[Notices]
[Page 19112-19113]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27ap09-85]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
[FTA Docket No. FTA-2009-0021]
Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved
Information Collection
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 approve
the extension of the currently approved information collection:
Metropolitan and Statewide Transportation Planning.
DATES: Comments must be submitted before June 26, 2009.
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: 202-493-2251.
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,
[[Page 19113]]
Washington, DC 20590-0001 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Candace Noonan, Office of Planning
and Environment, (202) 366-1648, or e-mail: candace.noonan@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested parties are invited to send
comments regarding any aspect of this information collection,
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: Metropolitan and Statewide Transportation Planning (OMB
Number: 2132-0529).
Background: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Federal
Highway Administration (FHWA) jointly carry out the Federal mandate to
improve urban and rural transportation. 49 U.S.C. Sections 5303 and
5304 and 23 U.S.C. 134 and 135 authorize the use of Federal funds to
assist Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), States, and local
public bodies in developing transportation plans and programs to serve
the transportation needs of urbanized areas over 50,000 in population
and other areas of States outside of urbanized areas. The information
collection activities involved in developing the Unified Planning Work
Program (UPWP), the Metropolitan Transportation Plan, the Long Range
Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan, the Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP), and the Statewide Transportation Improvement
Program (STIP) are necessary to identify and evaluate the
transportation issues and needs in each urbanized area and throughout
every State. These products of the transportation planning process are
essential elements in the reasonable planning and programming of
Federally funded transportation investments.
In addition to serving as management tools for MPOs and State DOTs,
the UPWP and State Planning and Research (SP&R) Work Program are used
by both FTA and FHWA to monitor the transportation planning activities
of those agencies. It is also needed to establish national out year
budgets and regional program plans, develop policy on using funds,
monitor State and local compliance with national technical emphasis
areas, respond to Congressional inquiries, prepare Congressional
testimony, and ensure efficiency in the use and expenditure of Federal
funds by determining that planning proposals are both reasonable and
cost-effective. 49 U.S.C. Section 5303 and 23 U.S.C.134(h) require the
development of TIPs for urbanized areas; STIPs are mandated by 49
U.S.C. Section 5304 and 23 U.S.C. 235(f) for an entire State. After
approval by the Governor and MPO, metropolitan TIPs in attainment areas
are to be incorporated directly into the STIP. For nonattainment areas,
FTA/FHWA must make a conformity finding on the TIPs before including
them into the STIP. The complete STIP is then jointly reviewed and
approved or disapproved by FTA and FHWA. These conformity findings and
approval actions constitute the determination that States are complying
with the requirements of 23 U.S.C. 235 and 49 U.S.C. Section 5304 as a
condition of eligibility for Federal-aid funding. Without these
documents, approvals and findings, capital and/or operating assistance
cannot be provided.
Respondents: State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) and MPOs.
Estimated Annual Burden on Respondents: 634.7 hours for each of the
453 respondents.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 287,519 hours.
Frequency: Annual.
Issued: April 21, 2009.
Ann M. Linnertz,
Associate Administrator for Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-9468 Filed 4-24-09; 8:45 am]
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